Shloka 63

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

जाग्रतः स्वपतश्चात्मा (३६०)महदात्मा परस्तथा / प्रधानस्य परात्मा च आकाशात्मा ह्यपां तथा

Transliteration

jāgrataḥ svapataścātmā (360)mahadātmā parastathā / pradhānasya parātmā ca ākāśātmā hyapāṃ tathā

Translation

真我（Ātman）在清醒与梦境（睡眠）之中皆恒常存在；祂亦是大我，亦是至上者。祂是原质（Pradhāna，太初自然）的至上我，也是虚空之我；同样，祂亦为诸水之中的我。

Word by Word

• जाग्रतः: of the waking (state/one)
• जाग्रतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाग्रत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले ‘जाग्रत्’ (one who is awake) इति प्रातिपदिक

• स्वपतः: of the sleeping (state/one)
• स्वपतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वपत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘स्वपत्’ (sleeping) इति प्रातिपदिक

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आत्मा: Self; soul
• आत्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महदात्मा: the Great Self
• महदात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् आत्मा’

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: likewise; thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• प्रधानस्य: of Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘परः आत्मा’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आकाशात्मा: the Self of ether (ākāśa)
• आकाशात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘आकाशस्य आत्मा’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अपाम्: of the waters
• अपाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘अप्’ (waters)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The one Self/Paramatman pervades waking and dreaming and is the inner Self of Pradhāna and the elements (space, waters).

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin (inner controller) and nondual pervasion of Brahman through nāma-rūpa; witness of avasthā-traya (states).

Application: Meditate on the witnessing Self across waking and dream; practice ‘neti-neti’ while affirming the indwelling presence in elemental experience (space/expanse, fluidity/water).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda/Adhyatma sections): antaryāmin-style enumerations of the Self in elements and senses (nearby verses 1.15.64–67)

Characters & Entities

• Ātman
• Mahat
• Pradhāna
• Ākāśa
• Ap (Waters)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Ātman across waking and sleep in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse emphasizes that the Self is continuous and unchanged across states of experience, supporting the Purāṇic teaching that consciousness is not limited to the body or a single mental condition.

How does this verse explain the relation between Ātman, Pradhāna, and Mahat?

It links the Self to key Sāṅkhya categories—Pradhāna (primordial Nature) and Mahat (cosmic intelligence)—to show that the Supreme Self stands as the inner reality behind both cosmic evolution and individual experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice witnessing awareness: observe waking and dream experiences without over-identifying with them, cultivating steadiness and discrimination (viveka) in daily life.