Shloka 9

Gītā-sāra: The Self as Witness and the Inner Ascent into Brahman

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियग्राममखिलं मनसाभिनिवेश्य च / मनश्चैवाप्यहङ्कारे प्रतिष्ठाप्य च पाण्डव

Transliteration

indriyagrāmamakhilaṃ manasābhiniveśya ca / manaścaivāpyahaṅkāre pratiṣṭhāpya ca pāṇḍava

Translation

Thu nhiếp toàn bộ các căn vào trong tâm, rồi lại an lập chính tâm ấy nơi ngã chấp—hỡi Pāṇḍava—(để tiến sâu vào nội tâm).

Word by Word

• इन्द्रियग्रामम्: the collection of senses
• इन्द्रियग्रामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रियाणां ग्रामः)

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (इन्द्रियग्रामम्)

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अभिनिवेश्य: having fixed/inserted
• अभिनिवेश्य: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having fixed/placed (in)’

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

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• अहङ्कारे: in the ego-sense
• अहङ्कारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: having established
• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having established’

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

• पाण्डव: O Pāṇḍava
• पाण्डव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction, as framed in Garuda–Vishnu dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratyahara-like withdrawal: senses are gathered into mind; mind is then fixed into ahamkara as a step in laya (involution) toward the Self.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-samyama as preparatory discipline for Self-knowledge; moving from outward multiplicity to inner unity.

Application: Meditation method: close sensory loops (sound/sight/touch etc.) into mindful awareness; then observe the ‘I’-sense that appropriates experience; remain as witness of that appropriation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.237.10 (further nyasa into buddhi→prakriti→purusha→brahman)

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍava

FAQs

What is the importance of withdrawing the senses in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the inner discipline of drawing the senses back into the mind, a prerequisite for clarity at death and for spiritual steadiness beyond bodily identification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By indicating a movement from sense-activity to mind, and from mind to ego-awareness, it points to the subtle layers that bind the jīva; recognizing and mastering them supports liberation-oriented understanding.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sense-restraint (limit distractions), daily meditation, and self-inquiry into the ‘I’ feeling (ahaṅkāra) to reduce impulsive karma and cultivate calm, ethical living.