Shloka 50

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

वञ्चिताशेषवित्तैस्तैर्नित्यं लोको विनाशितः / हा हन्त विषयाहारैर्देहस्थोन्द्रियतस्करैः

Transliteration

vañcitāśeṣavittaistairnityaṃ loko vināśitaḥ / hā hanta viṣayāhārairdehasthondriyataskaraiḥ

Translation

Von jenen Sinnesdieben betrogen und um alles Vermögen gebracht, werden die Menschen fortwährend ins Verderben geführt. Weh, weh! Indem sie sich an Sinnesobjekten nähren, verzehren die Diebe, die Sinne genannt und im Körper wohnend, Lebenszeit und Wohlergehen.

Word by Word

• वञ्चित-अशेष-वित्तैः: by (those) who have been deprived of all wealth / with all wealth stolen away
• वञ्चित-अशेष-वित्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वञ्च् (धातु) → वञ्चित (कृदन्त) + अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘वञ्चित’, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; instrumental plural masculine; qualifies तैः (understood) / indicates means/association

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; instrumental plural pronoun

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• लोकः: the world/people
• लोकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• विनाशितः: destroyed, ruined
• विनाशितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+नश् (धातु) → विनाशित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past passive participle; predicate of लोकः

• हा: alas!
• हा: Sambodhana/Exclamation (उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/शोक-उद्गार (interjection)

• हन्त: ah! indeed!
• हन्त: Sambodhana/Exclamation (उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन्त (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्गार-अव्यय (interjection; often lament/attention)

• विषय-आहारैः: by the ‘food’ of sense-objects (sense-enjoyments)
• विषय-आहारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural masculine

• देह-स्थः: dwelling in the body
• देह-स्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine; qualifies तस्करैः (as apposition via implied ‘by thieves who are body-dwelling’)

• इन्द्रिय-तस्करैः: by the thieves of the senses
• इन्द्रिय-तस्करैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + तस्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural masculine

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriyas, when fed by viṣaya-āhāra (sense-objects), steal vitality and destroy welfare; restraint and discernment protect one’s life-force and spiritual capital.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and vairāgya as prerequisites for jñāna/bhakti; the self is distinct from the sense-apparatus that plunders it.

Application: Practice sense-restraint (yama/niyama), mindful consumption, and daily reflection on how cravings ‘tax’ time, health, and virtue; redirect attention to mantra/japa and sattvic habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated warnings on viṣaya-asakti leading to Yama’s punishments (general thematic parallel within 2nd khaṇḍa); Garuda Purana: teachings on indriya-jaya and vairāgya in dharma/moksha-oriented passages (general)

Characters & Entities

• Indriyas (senses)
• Vishayas (sense-objects)

FAQs

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

This verse frames the senses as “thieves” inside the body that rob a person through craving for sense-objects; therefore, mastering the senses is essential to prevent moral and material ruin and to build auspicious karma.

How does this verse connect to karma and the afterlife themes of the Preta Kanda?

By warning that indulgence destroys one’s life and resources, it implies that uncontrolled desire leads to sinful actions and weakened spiritual preparedness—factors emphasized in the Preta Kanda when describing consequences after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat cravings like internal robbers: limit addictive consumption, practice moderation (niyama), and redirect attention to dharmic duties, charity, and remembrance of the divine.