Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

प्राणप्राणो महाशान्तो भयेन परिवर्जितः / अहङ्कारादिहीनश्च तद्धर्ंमपरिवर्जितः

Transliteration

prāṇaprāṇo mahāśānto bhayena parivarjitaḥ / ahaṅkārādihīnaśca taddharṃmaparivarjitaḥ

Translation

அவனே எல்லா உயிர்களிலும் பிராணனுக்குப் பிராணன்; மகாசாந்தன், பயமற்றவன். அவன் அகங்காரம் முதலியவற்றிலிருந்து விடுபட்டவன்; தன் ஸ்வதர்மம் (சுயசொரூபம்) விட்டு ஒருபோதும் விலகான்.

Word by Word

• प्राण: life-breath
• प्राण: Sambandha (Genitival relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• प्राणः: the very life-breath
• प्राणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्राण-प्राणः (कर्मधारयः/पुनरुक्ति-समासः: ‘the very prāṇa’)

• महाशान्तः: greatly peaceful
• महाशान्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्-पूर्वपद) + शान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √शम् (धातु) ‘to be calm’ क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (great + peaceful)

• भयेन: by fear / from fear
• भयेन: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Separation nuance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Instr., Singular)

• परिवर्जितः: free from, devoid of
• परिवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परि + √वर्ज् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहङ्कार: ego-sense
• अहङ्कार: Sambandha (Genitival relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (Genitival relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग; ‘etc., beginning with’

• हीनः: devoid of
• हीनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हा (धातु) ‘to abandon’ क्त/निष्ठा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अहङ्कारादि-हीनः = अहङ्कारादिभिः हीनः (Tatpurusha: ‘devoid of ego etc.’)

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitival relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• धर्म: attribute, dharma
• धर्म: Sambandha (Genitival relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• परिवर्जितः: devoid of
• परिवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परि + √वर्ज् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धर्म-परिवर्जितः = तद्धर्मेण परिवर्जितः (Tatpurusha: ‘devoid of that attribute’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Divine is the life within life, supremely peaceful and fearless; free from ego; unwavering in its own essential nature.

Vedantic Theme: Abhayam (fearlessness) as mark of Self-knowledge; ahankara-tyaga; svarupa-nishtha (abiding in one’s nature).

Application: Contemplate fear as ego-based contraction; practice letting go of ‘I-maker’ narratives; return repeatedly to still awareness, especially during anxiety or conflict.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.14.9

FAQs

What is the importance of fearlessness in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Supreme as intrinsically beyond fear; contemplating that fearless inner reality is taught as a way to loosen fear—especially fear of death—and move toward liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By pointing to the indwelling ‘life of life’ that is peaceful and ego-free, it implies that the soul’s progress is aided by shifting identity from ego and anxiety to the Self/Paramatman nature.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility and reduce ego-driven reactions; practice remembrance/meditation on the peaceful inner Self—this steadies the mind during loss, death-related rites, and daily ethical decisions.