Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

काष्ठवद्ब्रह्मसंलीनो योगी मुक्तस्तदा भवेत् / सर्ववर्णाः श्रियः सर्वाः कृत्वा पापानि भस्मसात्

Transliteration

kāṣṭhavadbrahmasaṃlīno yogī muktastadā bhavet / sarvavarṇāḥ śriyaḥ sarvāḥ kṛtvā pāpāni bhasmasāt

Translation

Nalulusaw sa Brahman na parang isang pirasong kahoy—ganap na walang-kilos at walang pagkamakasarili—ang yogi ay nagiging malaya. Matapos gawing abo ang mga kasalanan, dumarating sa kanya ang lahat ng anyo ng mapalad na kasaganaan, sa bawat uri.

Word by Word

• काष्ठवत्: like wood
• काष्ठवत्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (adverbial: ‘like/as’)

• ब्रह्मसंलीनः: absorbed in Brahman
• ब्रह्मसंलीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म-सम्-लीन (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + संलीन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘ब्रह्मणि संलीनः’

• योगी: the yogin
• योगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुक्तः: liberated
• मुक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त, क्त/PPP)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘freed/liberated’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb: ‘then’)

• भवेत्: would be, becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्ववर्णाः: of all kinds
• सर्ववर्णाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + वर्ण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘all kinds/colours’ (agreeing with श्रियः)

• श्रियः: prosperities, fortunes
• श्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कृत्वा: having made, having reduced
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा/gerund)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (त्वान्त), पूर्वकाल—‘having done/made’

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• भस्मसात्: to ashes, into ash
• भस्मसात्: Gati (Result/गति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भस्मसात् (अव्यय; भस्म + सात्)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण—‘to ashes/into ashes’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahma-saṃlīnatā (complete absorption in Brahman) yields mukti; tapas/knowledge burns pāpa to ashes; śrī (auspiciousness) follows as an effect, not the aim.

Vedantic Theme: Nirvikalpa-like stillness; pāpa-kṣaya through jñāna/tapas; siddhi/śrī as incidental (upasarga) relative to mokṣa.

Application: Prioritize deep meditation and ego-suspension; treat worldly gains as secondary; maintain ethical purity to support ‘pāpa-kṣaya’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.52 (dhyāna-agni leading to paramā gati)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Yogin

FAQs

What is the importance of becoming 'Brahman-absorbed' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Brahman-absorption as the decisive condition for moksha: when the yogin is fully merged in Brahman, liberation naturally follows.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward liberation?

It frames liberation as the result of deep yogic absorption that destroys accumulated sin-karma—described metaphorically as burning sins to ashes—removing obstacles to release.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady meditation and ethical discipline so that harmful actions (pāpa) are reduced through repentance, restraint, and sustained spiritual practice aimed at inner stillness.