Shloka 17
Śrīnivāsa at Svāmipuṣkariṇī: Darśana, Stotra, the Secret Veṅkaṭeśa Mantra, and the Meaning of “Vyaṅkaṭeśa”
त्वन्मायया नष्टमिमं च लोकं मदेन मत्तं बधिरं चान्धभूतम् / ऐश्वर्ययोगेन च यो हि मूको जातः सदा दीनागुर्वादिकेषु
tvanmāyayā naṣṭamimaṃ ca lokaṃ madena mattaṃ badhiraṃ cāndhabhūtam / aiśvaryayogena ca yo hi mūko jātaḥ sadā dīnāgurvādikeṣu
Durch Deine Māyā ist diese Welt vom Weg abgeirrt — vom Hochmut berauscht, ist sie taub geworden und gleichsam blind. Und wer durch Umgang mit Macht und Wohlstand „stumm“ wird, unfähig, recht zu sprechen, bleibt stets so gegenüber den Armen, den Lehrern und anderen Ehrwürdigen.
Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu
Concept: Aiśvarya and mada can render one ethically mute and blind, producing disrespect toward the poor and gurus; māyā distorts right speech and right seeing.
Vedantic Theme: Māyā-āvaraṇa (veiling) and ahaṅkāra as obstacles to viveka; need for sattva and humility to perceive dharma.
Application: Practice humility disciplines: dana to the needy, regular guru-sevā, mindful speech; periodically audit how status affects behavior.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: social realm
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.25.18 (aiśvarya opposed to bhakti); Garuda Purana 3.25.19-20 (burning anger/greed/delusion)
FAQs
The verse frames moral collapse as a result of māyā: people become spiritually “deaf and blind,” ignoring dharma and wise instruction.
It points to the root cause of harmful karma—pride born of prosperity—implying that disrespect toward the poor and gurus creates demerit that later bears results in post-death states described in the Preta Kanda.
Treat prosperity as a responsibility: actively listen to counsel, speak respectfully, and honor teachers, elders, and the poor—so wealth does not turn into arrogance and karmic downfall.