Shloka 12

From Brahman to the Elements: Subtle–Gross Body, Prāṇa, States of Consciousness, and Mahāvākya Realization

Devanagari script

परमात्मैव यज्जाग्रत्स्वप्नाद्यैर्यस्त्रिधा मतः / अन्तः करणराशेश्चैवान्तः करणःस्थितः

Transliteration

paramātmaiva yajjāgratsvapnādyairyastridhā mataḥ / antaḥ karaṇarāśeścaivāntaḥ karaṇaḥsthitaḥ

Translation

پرَماتما ہی بیداری، خواب وغیرہ حالتوں کے سبب تین طرح سے مانا جاتا ہے؛ اور وہ باطن کے آلات کے مجموعے کا مالک ہو کر اسی اندرونی آلے میں قائم رہتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• परमात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—परमः आत्मा

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• जाग्रत्स्वप्नाद्यैः: by waking, dream, etc.
• जाग्रत्स्वप्नाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाग्रत् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = etc.; करण (by means of/with)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-यः

• त्रिधा: in threefold manner
• त्रिधा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + धा (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in three ways)

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त-भूतकृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण—‘यः’

• अन्तःकरणराशेः: of the aggregate of inner instruments
• अन्तःकरणराशेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःकरण (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘अन्तःकरण’ = मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कारचित्तसमूहः; सम्बन्ध

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• अन्तःकरणस्थितः: situated in the inner instrument
• अन्तःकरणस्थितः: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तःकरण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त-भूतकृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—अन्तःकरणे स्थितः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Paramātman alone appears as threefold through waking/dream/sleep; He is antahkaraṇa-rāśeśa (lord of the aggregate of inner instruments) and yet abides within the antahkaraṇa as its indweller.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin doctrine; one consciousness reflected in mind (cid-ābhāsa) giving rise to state-differences; unity underlying experiential plurality.

Application: Purify and steady the mind (śama, dama) to reflect the Self clearly; treat mental states as modes of one consciousness; devotional contemplation of the indwelling Lord during daily activities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner-sacred-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.10 (witness of states); Garuda Purana 1.239.11 (beyond states, nirguṇa); Garuda Purana 1.239.13 (state-analysis by phala/kriyā/kāraka)

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Antahkarana

FAQs

What is the importance of the three states (waking, dream, deep sleep) in Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the three states to show that one consciousness (Paramatman) is the underlying reality, appearing differently as experience shifts from waking to dream and beyond.

How does this verse explain the presence of the Self in the mind (antahkarana)?

It states that the Supreme Self is the controller of the inner faculties and is present within them, implying that mental functions operate because consciousness illumines them from within.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe thoughts and emotions as changing states of the inner instrument, and cultivate detachment and steady awareness by remembering the witnessing Self behind all experiences.