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Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

मुमुक्षावथ संजाते अन्तः करणकेवले / विलापयेत्क्षेत्रजातं तत्क्षेत्रं परिशेषयेत्

Transliteration

mumukṣāvatha saṃjāte antaḥ karaṇakevale / vilāpayetkṣetrajātaṃ tatkṣetraṃ pariśeṣayet

Translation

Khi khát vọng giải thoát (mumukṣā) khởi lên và người ấy an trú thuần tịnh trong nội cụ (antaḥkaraṇa: tâm–tim), thì nên làm tan rã mọi thứ phát sinh trong “trường” (kṣetra: thân và kinh nghiệm); nhờ vậy, chính “trường” chỉ còn lại như phần dư mỏng manh.

Word by Word
मुमुक्षाdesire for liberation
मुमुक्षा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमुमुक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Nominative singular
अथthen
अथ:
Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय — particle (then)
संजातेwhen (it) has arisen
संजाते:
Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-जन् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) used as locative absolute; सप्तमी, एकवचन (नपुंसक/पुं-समासार्थे) — ‘when arisen/when it has occurred’
अन्तःकरणकेवलेin the inner instrument alone
अन्तःकरणकेवले:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्तःकरण + केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Locative singular; कर्मधारयः (केवलम् अन्तःकरणम्) ‘in the mind alone’
विलापयेत्should dissolve
विलापयेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवि-लाप् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should dissolve/melt away’
क्षेत्रजातम्that which is born in the field (body)
क्षेत्रजातम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षेत्र + जात (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular; तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रे जातम्)
तत्that
तत्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — Demonstrative adjective
क्षेत्रम्the field (body)
क्षेत्रम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular
परिशेषयेत्should leave (as remainder)
परिशेषयेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-शिष् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should leave as remainder/retain’
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When liberation-longing arises and one abides in the inner instrument alone, one should dissolve what has arisen in the field; the field is left as a mere remainder (residual appearance).

Vedantic Theme: Kṣetra–kṣetrajña viveka; laya of nāma-rūpa in awareness; progressive negation (neti-neti) leading toward non-dual recognition.

Application: In meditation, withdraw attention from body-story and sensory narratives; dissolve thoughts into their source; maintain witness stance until only minimal functional embodiment remains without ownership.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.239.16 (samādhi commencement); Garuda Purana 1.239.18 (cause-effect non-difference)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse treats mumuksha as the turning point: when it truly arises, practice shifts inward—toward purification and steadying of the antahkarana—so worldly identifications can be dissolved.

It points to liberation through inner absorption: by resting in the purified inner instrument and dissolving what arises in the ‘field’ (body-mind experiences), the sense of bondage tied to the kshetra is weakened until only a residual appearance remains.

Cultivate daily inner watchfulness (mind/intellect/ego), reduce reactive identification with experiences, and practice detachment—treating thoughts and sensations as ‘field-events’ to be released rather than owned.

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