Shloka 17

Brahman Beyond the Elements and the Three States (Turīya) — Dhyāna Leading to Brahma-realization

Devanagari script

एवं ज्ञात्वा महादेवध्यानं कुर्याज्जितेन्द्रियः / ध्यानं यः कुरुते ह्येवं स भवेद्बह्म मानवः

Transliteration

evaṃ jñātvā mahādevadhyānaṃ kuryājjitendriyaḥ / dhyānaṃ yaḥ kurute hyevaṃ sa bhavedbahma mānavaḥ

Translation

ఇలా తెలిసి, ఇంద్రియనిగ్రహం కలవాడు మహాదేవుని ధ్యానం చేయాలి. ఈ విధంగా ధ్యానించేవాడు బ్రహ్మనిష్ఠుడైన మనిషి అవుతాడు.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• महादेवध्यानम्: meditation on Mahādeva
• महादेवध्यानम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महादेवस्य ध्यानम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/practice
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; जि धातु + क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहि); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• कुरुते: does/practices
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र विधेय (predicate)

• मानवः: a man/human
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: With sense-control and correct understanding, meditation leads to brahman-realization (brahma-bhūta).

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana leading to aparokṣa-jñāna; convergence of dhyāna and jñāna; brahma-sākṣātkāra.

Application: Adopt yama/niyama-like restraint; establish daily meditation; contemplate the taught nirguṇa principle until steady absorption arises.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: meditation-seat/inner sanctum

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.91.15–16 (object of contemplation described apophatically); Garuda Purana 1.92.1 (transition to Viṣṇu-dhyāna request)

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahadeva-dhyana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Mahādeva-meditation, grounded in sense-restraint, as a direct means to inner transformation culminating in Brahman-realization.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing post-death travel here, it emphasizes the preventive spiritual path: disciplined meditation that leads to realization of Brahman, which is the liberating goal beyond rebirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sense-control (diet, speech, habits) and adopt a steady daily meditation on Śiva as the focus for inner stillness and clarity.