Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

देहेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिप्राणाहङ्कारवर्जितम् / आकशेन विहीनं वै तेजसा परिवर्जितम्

Transliteration

dehendriyamanobuddhiprāṇāhaṅkāravarjitam / ākaśena vihīnaṃ vai tejasā parivarjitam

Translation

అది దేహం, ఇంద్రియాలు, మనస్సు, బుద్ధి, ప్రాణం, అహంకారం లేనిది; నిజంగా అది ఆకాశం లేనిది, తేజస్సు (అగ్నితత్త్వం) కూడా లేనిది।

Word by Word

• देहेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिप्राणाहङ्कारवर्जितम्: devoid of body, senses, mind, intellect, prāṇa, and ego
• देहेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिप्राणाहङ्कारवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘वर्जित’ = deprived of; समासः—समाहार/तत्पुरुष-प्राय (deprived of body, senses, mind, intellect, vital-breath, ego)

• आकाशेन: by/with ether (ākāśa)
• आकाशेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विहीनम्: devoid of
• विहीनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ही (धातु) → विहीन (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• तेजसा: by/with radiance/energy
• तेजसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• परिवर्जितम्: completely devoid of
• परिवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + वर्ज् (धातु) → परिवर्जित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Apophatic definition of the Absolute: beyond body, senses, mind, intellect, prāṇa, ahaṅkāra; beyond ākāśa and tejas—negation of limiting adjuncts (upādhi).

Vedantic Theme: Neti-neti; nirguṇa-brahma/paramātman beyond subtle and gross elements; distinction between Self and sheaths (kośa).

Application: Contemplate ‘I am not the body/mind’ (viveka); use negation meditation to loosen identification with sensory and egoic layers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana philosophical passages describing the Lord/Ātman as beyond elements and faculties; Garuda Purana bhakti-jnana synthesis where Hari is both immanent and transcendent

FAQs

What is the importance of describing the self as beyond body, mind, and prāṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the true self is not the physical or subtle functions (senses, mind, prāṇa, ego), preparing the reader to understand death and post-death states without mistaking them for the ātman.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By stating that the ultimate reality is beyond bodily and subtle constituents, it frames the post-death journey as involving subtle experiences and karmic processes, while the innermost self remains distinct from those changing layers.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment and ethical clarity: observe thoughts and ego without identifying with them, and align actions with dharma, remembering that the self is deeper than transient bodily or mental states.