Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 50

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

गुप्तशिश्रोदरादिश्च कुर्वन्योगी विमुच्यते / इन्द्रियैरिन्द्रियार्थांस्तु न जानाति नरो यदा

Transliteration

guptaśiśrodarādiśca kurvanyogī vimucyate / indriyairindriyārthāṃstu na jānāti naro yadā

Translation

当瑜伽行者修习对隐秘诸根、腹部等的摄持与节制时，便得解脱；因为当人不再以诸根去认取诸境时，即从系缚中得自由。

Word by Word

• गुप्तशिश्रोदरादिः: concealed genitals, belly, etc. (austerities)
• गुप्तशिश्रोदरादिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुप्त-शिश्न-उदर-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; गुप्त + शिश्न + उदर + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ—‘(the set of) concealed genitals, belly, etc.’

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

• कुर्वन्: doing, performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कुर्वत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि—‘doing’

• योगी: a yogin
• योगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विमुच्यते: is freed
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/मध्यार्थ—‘is released’

• इन्द्रियैः: by the senses
• इन्द्रियैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• इन्द्रियार्थान्: objects of the senses
• इन्द्रियार्थान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रिय + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणबोधक अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधबोधक अव्यय (negation)

• जानाति: knows, perceives
• जानाति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb/conjunction: ‘when’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriya-nigraha and regulation of bodily drives lead to liberation; when sensory cognition no longer runs outward to objects, bondage ends.

Vedantic Theme: Pratyāhāra and uparati; cessation of viṣaya-vṛtti supports brahma-jñāna; bondage is sustained by sense-object identification.

Application: Adopt disciplined lifestyle: moderation in food/sleep, celibacy or regulated sexuality, mindful sensory diet (what you watch/hear), and daily pratyāhāra/meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.49 (yoga leading to compassion/detachment); Garuda Purana 1.235.51 (brahma-laya like wood)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Indriyas (senses)
• Yogi

FAQs

What is the importance of sense-control (indriya-nigraha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents sense-restraint as a direct cause of release: liberation arises when one stops chasing and identifying with sense-objects through the senses.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It indicates that bondage is sustained by sensory cognition and craving; when that linkage is cut through yogic restraint, the soul moves toward freedom rather than continued entanglement in karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice disciplined moderation—guard sexual impulse, regulate appetite, and reduce compulsive sensory consumption—so the mind becomes steady and less driven by craving.