Shloka 36

Atma-Jnana as the Direct Means to Moksha: Advaita, Maya, and the Three States

Devanagari script

सत्तावकल्पनं काले न सन्ति परमार्थतः / यथा रथादयः स्वप्ने सन्तो नैव च सत्यतः

Transliteration

sattāvakalpanaṃ kāle na santi paramārthataḥ / yathā rathādayaḥ svapne santo naiva ca satyataḥ

Translation

زمانے کے قائم کردہ ‘وجود’ کا تصور حقیقتِ مطلقہ میں واقعی نہیں؛ جیسے خواب میں رتھ وغیرہ موجود دکھائی دیتے ہیں، مگر فی الحقیقت سچے نہیں ہوتے۔

Word by Word

• सत्तावकल्पनम्: the imputation/assumption of existence
• सत्तावकल्पनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + अवकल्पन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सत्तायाः अवकल्पनम् = existence-imputation)

• काले: in time
• काले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• सन्ति: are/exist
• सन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमार्थतः: in ultimate truth/ultimately
• परमार्थतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: 'from/according to ultimate reality')

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/तुलना-वाचक

• रथादयः: chariots and the like
• रथादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रथः आदिः येषाम्)

• स्वप्ने: in a dream
• स्वप्ने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• सन्तः: appearing as existing
• सन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √अस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

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

• सत्यतः: truly/in reality
• सत्यतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: 'in truth')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Temporal projections (kāla-kalpita sattā) are not ultimately real; waking objects are like dream chariots—appearing yet not true in paramārtha.

Vedantic Theme: Mithyātva of jagat; distinction between vyāvahārika and pāramārthika satya; dream as model for superimposition.

Application: When anxiety arises from changing circumstances, recall ‘kāla-kalpita’ nature; practice neti-neti and witness-consciousness meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana jñāna discourse on paramārtha vs vyavahāra (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of maya and time-bound reality in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that what appears real within time is ultimately a mental projection; recognizing this helps cultivate detachment and clarity on the path to liberation.

How does this verse relate to death and the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

By framing worldly appearances as dream-like, it reduces clinging and fear, supporting the text’s broader guidance that the soul should seek the eternal rather than transient, time-conditioned experiences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat changing circumstances—gain, loss, praise, blame—as impermanent appearances; focus on ethical living and steady spiritual practice rather than anxiety over transient outcomes.