Shloka 4

Dhyāna of Hari as the Nirguṇa Witness (Ātman), and the Attainment of Viṣṇu’s Realm

Devanagari script

देहधर्ंमविहीनश्च क्षराक्षरविवर्जितः / षड्विधेषु स्थितो द्रष्टा श्रोता घ्राता ह्यतीन्द्रियः

Transliteration

dehadharṃmavihīnaśca kṣarākṣaravivarjitaḥ / ṣaḍvidheṣu sthito draṣṭā śrotā ghrātā hyatīndriyaḥ

Translation

அவன் உடலின் தர்மங்களிலிருந்து அற்றவன்; க்ஷரமும் அக்ஷரமும் இரண்டிற்கும் அப்பாற்பட்டவன். ஆறுவகை நிலைகளில் இருப்பினும், அவன் காண்பவன், கேட்பவன், மணப்பவன் எனச் சாட்சி; புலன்களுக்கு அப்பாற்பட்டவன்.

Word by Word

• देहधर्म: bodily property; body-dharma
• देहधर्म: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देहस्य धर्मः)

• विहीनः: devoid (of)
• विहीनः: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ही (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘devoid of’

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

• क्षराक्षरविवर्जितः: free from the perishable and the imperishable
• क्षराक्षरविवर्जितः: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षर + अक्षर + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वर्ज् धातु; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (क्षर + अक्षर) ततः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘क्षराक्षरयोः विवर्जितः’

• षड्विधेषु: in the sixfold (modes/categories)
• षड्विधेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + विध (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (षड्विधाः)

• स्थितः: situated; abiding
• स्थितः: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्रष्टा: seer
• द्रष्टा: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक (तृ/तारक-प्रत्यय ‘टृ’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रोता: hearer
• श्रोता: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक (तृ/टृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घ्राता: smeller
• घ्राता: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-प्रातिपदिक (तृ/टृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle)

• अतीन्द्रियः: beyond the senses
• अतीन्द्रियः: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/अव्ययीभावार्थः ‘इन्द्रियाणि अतिक्रान्तः’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Self/Lord is beyond bodily dharmas and beyond kṣara/akṣara duality; present as witness within the sixfold modes yet transcending senses.

Vedantic Theme: Sākṣī-caitanya; asanga and atīndriya nature of Ātman; discrimination between seer and seen (dṛg-dṛśya-viveka).

Application: During perception, note ‘I am the witness of seeing/hearing/smelling’; reduce identification with bodily states; cultivate mindful detachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: teachings on the witness-self and Vishnu’s transcendence (general)

FAQs

What is the importance of the soul being ‘beyond the senses’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the true self is not limited to bodily functions; it remains the witnessing consciousness even when sensory capacities and physical conditions change.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By distinguishing the witness from bodily dharma, it frames death and post-death experience as transitions of the body and subtle modes, while the seer-self remains fundamentally transcendent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from purely bodily identity and practice self-observation (witnessing thoughts and sensations), supporting ethical living and steadiness during loss and change.