Shloka 39

Atma-Jnana as the Direct Means to Moksha: Advaita, Maya, and the Three States

Devanagari script

मायाविचारसिद्धैव विचारेण विलीयते / आपातरहिता सापि कल्पना कालवर्तिनी

Transliteration

māyāvicārasiddhaiva vicāreṇa vilīyate / āpātarahitā sāpi kalpanā kālavartinī

Translation

幻力（Māyā）唯由对其本身的观照与审察而被确立，而亦由同一观照而消融。即使一种不依赖当下显现的观念，也不过是心识的造作，在时间之流中迁转。

Word by Word

• माया: illusion, māyā
• माया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विचार: inquiry, reflection
• विचार: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• सिद्धा: established, proven
• सिद्धा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• विचारेण: by inquiry, through reflection
• विचारेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विलीयते: dissolves, disappears
• विलीयते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √ली (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• आपात: sudden occurrence, immediate appearance
• आपात: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• रहिता: devoid of, without
• रहिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सा: she/that (it)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• कल्पना: imagination, conceptual construction
• कल्पना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• काल: in time; time
• काल: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• वर्तिनी: moving/continuing (existing)
• वर्तिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Māyā is a vichāra-siddha kalpanā: it appears established only when examined, and the same inquiry dissolves it; even subtle ‘appearance-free’ notions remain time-bound mental constructions.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāsa-bhāṣya logic; mithyātva of nāma-rūpa; vichāra as nivṛtti of avidyā; kāla as upādhi for conceptuality.

Application: Practice self-inquiry: whenever a concept about reality arises, trace it to the mind and time-conditioning; rest in the witnessing awareness rather than refining concepts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.236 (jnana-viveka section on māyā and inquiry)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of vicāra (self-inquiry) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that māyā persists only as long as it is conceptually upheld; when examined through vicāra, it collapses, pointing to discrimination as a direct means to loosen bondage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that bondage is sustained by time-bound mental projections (kalpanā); clarity through inquiry helps the soul detach from illusion and move toward liberation rather than remaining bound to cyclical experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When fear, grief, or obsession arises, question its basis—what is directly known versus assumed—so time-driven imagination does not govern decisions; this supports steadier dharma and inner freedom.