Shloka 68

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

निवेदयेच्च आत्मानं विष्णवे ऽमलतेजसे / तदाध्यात्ममनाः शान्तस्तद्विष्णोरिति मन्त्रतः

Transliteration

nivedayecca ātmānaṃ viṣṇave 'malatejase / tadādhyātmamanāḥ śāntastadviṣṇoriti mantrataḥ

Translation

विष्णवेऽमलतेजसे स्वात्मानं निवेदयेत्; शान्तोऽध्यात्ममनाः ‘तद्विष्णोः’ इति मन्त्रतः।

Word by Word

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/dedicate
• निवेदयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√विद् (धातु) उपसर्ग: नि
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आत्मानम्: oneself/the self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• विष्णवे: to Vishnu
• विष्णवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; Dative singular

• अमल-तेजसे: to (him) of stainless radiance
• अमल-तेजसे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (तेजस्), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ: ‘अमलं तेजः यस्य’ (to the one of pure radiance)

• तद्: that
• तद्: Sambandha (Reference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; deictic ‘that’ (referring to the act/state)

• आध्यात्म-मनाः: having a spiritual/inward mind
• आध्यात्म-मनाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आध्यात्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोग: ‘आध्यात्मे मनः यस्य’ (whose mind is inward/spiritual)

• शान्तः: calm/peaceful
• शान्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past participle used adjectivally

• तद्: that
• तद्: Sambandha (Reference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; deictic ‘that’ (quotative)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• मन्त्रतः: by means of the mantra/according to the mantra
• मन्त्रतः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): मन्त्रतः = मन्त्रात्/मन्त्रेण ‘by/according to the mantra’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atma-nivedana (self-offering) to Vishnu, supported by mantra, produces adhyatma-manas (spiritual inwardness) and shanti (peace).

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-pranidhana and surrender reduce ahankara, preparing the mind for liberation-oriented knowledge and steady devotion.

Application: Practice daily self-surrender: mentally offer actions, identity, and outcomes to Vishnu; use 'tad viṣṇoḥ' as a centering mantra to cultivate calm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: inner contemplative space within a rite (antar-yajna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.67 (Hari-dharana with mantra); Garuda Purana 1.50.66 (aradhana as true punya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of self-surrender to Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents surrender of the self to Vishnu as a direct spiritual discipline—done with inner calm and adhyatmic focus—supporting liberation-oriented living.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It emphasizes inner orientation (ādhyātma-manāḥ) and mantric dedication of one’s identity to Vishnu, framing the soul’s progress as rooted in devotion, peace, and consecration rather than mere external acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate calmness, remember Vishnu, and consciously dedicate actions and identity to the divine—using a simple dedication such as “this is Vishnu’s”—to reduce ego-driven conduct and strengthen spiritual steadiness.