Shloka 12

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

सारात्सारतरं तत्त्वं श्रोतुकामः सुरैः सह / रुद्रौवाच / अहं ध्यायामि तं विष्णुं परमात्मानमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

sārātsārataraṃ tattvaṃ śrotukāmaḥ suraiḥ saha / rudrauvāca / ahaṃ dhyāyāmi taṃ viṣṇuṃ paramātmānamīśvaram

Translation

सारात्सारतरं तत्त्वं श्रोतुकामः सुरैः सह। रुद्र उवाच—अहं ध्यायामि तं विष्णुं परमात्मानमीश्वरम्॥

Word by Word

• सारात्: from (the) essence
• सारात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative ‘from essence’

• सारतरम्: more essential
• सारतरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (तर-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies ‘tattvam’

• तत्त्वम्: principle/truth
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object of ‘śrotukāmaḥ’ (to hear)

• श्रोतुकामः: desirous to hear
• श्रोतुकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रोतुम् (तुमुन्) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः: श्रोतुम्-कामः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; desiderative adjective ‘desirous to hear’

• सुरैः: with the gods
• सुरैः: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental ‘with gods’

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (Accompaniment marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सह-प्रयोगे उपसर्गवत्/निपात); ‘together with’

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; speaker

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्णभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ध्यायामि: I meditate on
• ध्यायामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; refers to Viṣṇu

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; apposition to ‘tam’

• परमात्मानम्: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (कर्मधारयः: परमः आत्मा), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; apposition to Viṣṇu

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; apposition

Speaker

Rudra (Shiva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is the Supreme Self (Paramātman) and Lord; even Rudra’s dhyāna culminates in Viṣṇu.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as Paramātman; unity of the supreme reality beyond deity-forms, expressed as Viṣṇu-paratva.

Application: Center meditation and devotion on the all-lord (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa) as inner Self; let authority be grounded in realized testimony (āpta-vākya).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: assembly/discourse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.15 (Viṣṇu-nāma-stuti and śaraṇāgati); Garuda Purana 1.2.14 (vow-discipline for Viṣṇu worship)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Vishnu
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Vishnu as Paramatma and Ishvara, implying that meditation on Vishnu is a direct contemplation of the highest reality and the inner Self.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying Vishnu as the Supreme Self, it points to liberation-oriented knowledge: realizing the Paramatma through devotion and meditation is the foundation for transcending fear and bondage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Set aside daily time for dhyāna (meditation) or japa focused on Vishnu as the indwelling Self, aligning actions with dharma and inner awareness.