Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

सूर्ये हृद्व्योम्नि वह्नौ च ज्योतिरेकं त्रिधा स्थितम् / यथा सर्पिः शीरस्थं गवां न कुरुते बलम्

Transliteration

sūrye hṛdvyomni vahnau ca jyotirekaṃ tridhā sthitam / yathā sarpiḥ śīrasthaṃ gavāṃ na kurute balam

Translation

ఒకే జ్యోతి మూడు విధాలుగా స్థితమై ఉంది—సూర్యునిలో, హృదయాకాశంలో, అగ్నిలో. పాలలో ఉన్న నెయ్యి, బయటకు తీయకపోతే, గోవులకు బలాన్ని ఇవ్వనట్లే।

Word by Word

• सूर्ये: in the sun
• सूर्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• हृद्व्योम्नि: in the heart-space
• हृद्व्योम्नि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—हृदः व्योम (space of the heart)

• वह्नौ: in fire
• वह्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण

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

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ज्योतिः)

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/विभाग-अव्यय (adverb: in three ways)

• स्थितम्: situated, established
• स्थितम्: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ज्योतिः-विशेषणम्

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparison/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/रीति-अव्यय (comparative particle: as)

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• क्षीरस्थम्: present in milk
• क्षीरस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः—क्षीरे स्थितम् (present in milk)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कुरुते: produces, makes
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One consciousness/light appears in multiple seats; realization requires ‘bringing forth’ the subtle essence, like extracting ghee from milk.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman as ekam-jyoti manifesting as antaryāmin and cosmic light; viveka and sādhanā to actualize latent truth.

Application: Use triadic contemplation: meditate on solar radiance, inner heart-space awareness, and the transformative fire of practice; recognize that latent divinity needs disciplined extraction (sādhana) to become effective.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic/inner-elemental

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: inner light/antaryāmin motifs in jnana passages; analogies for latent realization

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'one Light' (jyoti) in this Garuda Purana verse?

It teaches that the same spiritual radiance is present outwardly as the Sun, ritually as fire, and inwardly as the light in the heart—pointing to a single underlying reality to be realized.

How does this verse explain inner realization using the ghee-in-milk example?

Like ghee hidden in milk, the inner light is present but not immediately manifest; it becomes evident through appropriate means—disciplined practice, discernment, and purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily contemplation (heart-centered awareness), treat sacred fire/ritual as a reminder of inner purity, and practice discernment to uncover the 'hidden' spiritual strength within.