Shloka 10

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

ध्यानमेव परो धर्मो ध्यानमेव परं तपः / ध्यानमेव परं शौचं तस्माद्ध्यानपरो भवेत्

Transliteration

dhyānameva paro dharmo dhyānameva paraṃ tapaḥ / dhyānameva paraṃ śaucaṃ tasmāddhyānaparo bhavet

Translation

ध्यानमेव परो धर्मो ध्यानमेव परं तपः। ध्यानमेव परं शौचं तस्माद्ध्यानपरो भवेत्॥

Word by Word

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), अवधारणार्थकः (emphatic: only/indeed)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• धर्मः: dharma, duty
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), अवधारणार्थकः

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तपः इति नपुंसकस्य)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), अवधारणार्थकः

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शौचं इति नपुंसकस्य)

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थक-निपातः (therefore/from that reason)

• ध्यानपरः: devoted to meditation
• ध्यानपरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ध्येय-परः = ध्यानं परं यस्य/ध्यान-निष्ठः)

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhyāna is the highest dharma, tapas, and purity; therefore cultivate meditation as the primary discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through sustained contemplation leading toward liberation-oriented steadiness (samādhāna).

Application: Establish a daily meditation routine; treat meditation as the core practice that supports ethical living, austerity, and inner cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.230.11-12 (Viṣṇu as supreme object; attainment granted through meditation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of meditation (dhyāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates dhyāna as the pinnacle of dharma, tapas, and purity, presenting it as the most direct and comprehensive spiritual discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying meditation as supreme purity and discipline, it implies that inner cultivation (clarity of mind and conduct) is central to spiritual progress beyond mere external observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a consistent meditation practice and treat it as a core daily duty—supporting ethical living, self-restraint, and inner cleanliness of intention.