Shloka 7

Devanagari script

स्वयञ्ज्योतिरनाद्यन्तो निर्विकारः परात्परः / निर्गुणः सच्चिदानन्दस्तदंशा जीवसंज्ञकाः

Transliteration

svayañjyotiranādyanto nirvikāraḥ parātparaḥ / nirguṇaḥ saccidānandastadaṃśā jīvasaṃjñakāḥ

Translation

ఆయన స్వయంజ్యోతి, ఆది-అంతరహితుడు, నిర్వికారుడు, పరాత్పరుడు. ఆయన నిర్గుణ సచ్చిదానందుడు; ‘జీవ’ అని పిలువబడే ఆత్మలు ఆయన అంసములని చెప్పబడును.

Word by Word

• svayam: self, by itself
• svayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• jyotiḥ: light, radiance
• jyotiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• anādi-antaḥ: without beginning and end
• anādi-antaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anādi (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to implied īśvara/brahman

• nirvikāraḥ: unchanging
• nirvikāraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirvikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parāt-paraḥ: higher than the highest
• parāt-paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parāt (अव्यय/तसिल्) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirguṇaḥ: without qualities (guṇas)
• nirguṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sat-cit-ānandaḥ: being-consciousness-bliss
• sat-cit-ānandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + cit (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (samāhāra/collective sense); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tad-aṃśāḥ: parts/portions of that
• tad-aṃśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• jīva-saṃjñakāḥ: called ‘jīvas’
• jīva-saṃjñakāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective to tadaṃśāḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahman is self-luminous, beginningless/endless, changeless, nirguṇa, saccidānanda; jīvas are described as His aṃśas (dependent manifestations/portions).

Vedantic Theme: svayaṃ-prakāśatva of ātman/brahman; nirguṇa-saccidānanda; jīva-brahma relation (aṃśa language often read via bhedābheda/viśiṣṭādvaita or as upādhi-based reflection in advaita).

Application: Meditate on consciousness as self-revealing (svayaṃjyoti) and cultivate disidentification from change (nirvikāra) while examining the jīva’s dependence on the Absolute.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: mokṣa chapters describing Brahman as saccidānanda and the jīva’s bondage via avidyā

Characters & Entities

• Jiva
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of saccidānanda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines the Supreme as sat-cit-ānanda—pure being, consciousness, and bliss—establishing the metaphysical basis for liberation beyond fear, change, and death.

How does this verse explain the relationship between Brahman and the jīva?

It states that jīvas are called ‘tad-aṃśa’—portions or aspects of the Supreme—indicating an essential dependence on the self-luminous, nirguṇa Reality while still being referred to as individual souls.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Contemplate the changeless Self (nirvikāra) behind experiences; this reduces anxiety, supports ethical living, and aligns daily actions with spiritual goals like detachment and self-knowledge.