Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

वेदाहमेतं पुरुषं चिद्रूपं तमसः परम् / सो ऽहमस्मीति मोक्षाय नान्यः पन्था विमुक्तये

Transliteration

vedāhametaṃ puruṣaṃ cidrūpaṃ tamasaḥ param / so 'hamasmīti mokṣāya nānyaḥ panthā vimuktaye

Translation

میں اس برتر پُرش کو جانتا ہوں جو سراسر شعور ہے اور تمس (جہالت) سے پرے ہے۔ ‘سوہم’ کی پہچان ہی موکش ہے؛ کامل نجات کا کوئی اور راستہ نہیں۔

Word by Word

• वेद: I know
• वेद: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन (present, active, 1st sg)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन (pronoun; nominative singular)

• एतम्: this
• एतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular); पुरुषम् इति विशेषणम्

• पुरुषम्: Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular)

• चिद्रूपम्: of the nature of consciousness
• चिद्रूपम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चिदः रूपम् = whose nature is consciousness)

• तमसः: from darkness
• तमसः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/षष्ठी, एकवचन (neuter, ablative/genitive singular)

• परम्: beyond
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular); पुरुषम् इति विशेषणम्

• सः: he/that (one)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nominative singular)

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन (present, active, 1st sg)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation-marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इत्यादि-परामर्शार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• मोक्षाय: for liberation
• मोक्षाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (masculine, dative singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• पन्थाः: path
• पन्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन्/पन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular; irregular stem पथिन्)

• विमुक्तये: for release/freedom
• विमुक्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (feminine, dative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowing the consciousness-nature Purusha beyond tamas; realization ‘so’ham’ (identity) is the means to moksha—no other path to complete release.

Vedantic Theme: Mahāvākya-style identity (aham-brahmāsmi/so’ham) and aparokṣa-jñāna as direct cause of moksha; avidyā as ‘tamas’.

Application: Undertake self-inquiry and contemplative assimilation of identity statements; notice awareness as constant across experiences; reduce identification with body-mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.236.7 (shravana-manana-dhyana as means)

Characters & Entities

• Purusha (Supreme Self)

FAQs

What is the importance of “So’ham asmi” in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents “So’ham asmi” (I am He) as a direct liberating realization—knowing the Consciousness-Self beyond ignorance is taught as the decisive means to moksha.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It shifts the focus from external routes to inner knowledge: the soul’s freedom is achieved by realizing its identity with the Supreme Consciousness (Purusha), transcending tamas (spiritual darkness).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate self-inquiry and meditation to recognize awareness beyond fear and ignorance; let actions be guided by clarity (sattva) rather than delusion (tamas).