Shloka 49

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

योगाभ्यासं प्रकुर्वन्तः पस्यन्त्यात्मानमात्मना / सर्वभूतेषु कारुण्यं विद्वेषं विषयेषु च

Transliteration

yogābhyāsaṃ prakurvantaḥ pasyantyātmānamātmanā / sarvabhūteṣu kāruṇyaṃ vidveṣaṃ viṣayeṣu ca

Translation

योगाभ्यासं प्रकुर्वन्तो पश्यन्त्यात्मानमात्मना। सर्वभूतेषु कारुण्यं विषयेषु च निर्विदम्॥

Word by Word

• योगाभ्यासम्: practice of yoga
• योगाभ्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग-अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक; योग + अभ्यास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रकुर्वन्तः: practising, doing
• प्रकुर्वन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√कृ (धातु) → प्रकुर्वत् (कृदन्त, शतृ/Present active participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तरि—‘doing/practising’

• पश्यन्ति: they see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आत्मना: by the Self
• आत्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सर्वभूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्वभूतेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; अधिकरण—‘in all beings’

• कारुण्यम्: compassion
• कारुण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विद्वेषम्: hatred
• विद्वेषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विषयेषु: in sense-objects
• विषयेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Through sustained yoga-abhyāsa, one realizes the Self directly; realization expresses as dayā toward beings and vairāgya toward sense-objects.

Vedantic Theme: Ātma-sākṣātkāra; viveka-vairāgya as marks of knowledge; compassion as sattva-pradhāna purification and non-separative vision.

Application: Maintain daily meditation and self-inquiry; cultivate ahimsā and kindness; practice sense-restraint by reducing indulgence and observing cravings without feeding them.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.50-52: restraint, brahma-laya, dhyāna as means to paramā gati

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Sarva-bhutas

FAQs

What is the importance of yoga-abhyasa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents yoga-abhyasa as the direct means to perceive the Atman, showing that steady practice culminates in inner realization rather than mere ritual or theory.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing Self-knowledge (seeing the Self by the Self), it points to liberation-oriented living: cultivating compassion and detachment, which purify karma and support the soul’s upward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent spiritual discipline (meditation, self-inquiry, restraint), practice compassion in daily conduct, and reduce dependence on sensory pleasures to strengthen clarity and ethical living.