Shloka 37

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

अहं ब्रह्मेत्यवस्थानं समाधिर्ब्रह्मणः स्थितिः / अहमात्मा परं ब्रह्म सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तकम्

Transliteration

ahaṃ brahmetyavasthānaṃ samādhirbrahmaṇaḥ sthitiḥ / ahamātmā paraṃ brahma satyaṃ jñānamanantakam

Translation

‘अहं ब्रह्म’ इति यद्भानं समाधिः ब्रह्मणि स्थितिः। अहमेवात्मा परं ब्रह्म सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तकम्॥

Word by Word

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषार्थे; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; quoted in iti-clause

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिबोधक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• avasthānam: abiding, state (of being)
• avasthānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ava-√sthā (धातु) → avasthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘state/abiding’

• samādhiḥ: samādhi, absorption
• samādhiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धातु) → samādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• sthitiḥ: steadfastness, abiding
• sthitiḥ: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √sthā (धातु) → sthiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; predicate-noun to samādhiḥ

• aham-ātmā: the self as ‘I’
• aham-ātmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aham (सर्वनाम) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘I’ as the Self / the self that is ‘I’)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to brahma)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• satyam: true, reality
• satyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to brahma)

• jñānam: knowledge, consciousness
• jñānam: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √jñā (धातु) → jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; used as appositional predicate to brahma

• anantakam: endless, infinite
• anantakam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to jñānam/brahma)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Samādhi defined as abiding in ‘ahaṃ brahma’; Brahman characterized as satya (truth), jñāna (consciousness/knowledge), ananta (infinite).

Vedantic Theme: Mahāvākya-anusandhāna leading to brahma-niṣṭhā; svarūpa-lakṣaṇa of Brahman (satya-jñāna-ananta) aligned with Upaniṣadic definition.

Application: Use ‘ahaṃ brahma’ as nididhyāsana: repeatedly return to the non-objectified sense of being-awareness, dropping all adjuncts (upādhis) when they arise.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.38 (tat tvam asi; aśarīra); Garuda Purana 1.49.40 (meditation leading to liberation)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Atman

FAQs

What is the importance of “Aham Brahmasmi” in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats “I am Brahman” as the defining inner stance of liberation—an established, unwavering realization that culminates in samādhi and freedom from bondage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to moksha through direct Self-knowledge: recognizing the Ātman as the Supreme Brahman (truth-consciousness-infinite) rather than identifying with the perishable body and mind.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice steady contemplation on the Self, reduce ego-based identification, and cultivate truthfulness and clarity—using meditation to abide in awareness rather than fluctuating thoughts.