Shloka 10

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

ततस्तु वैष्णवी माया वृणोत्यत्यन्तमोहिनी / बालत्वं त्वथ कौमारं यौवनं वृद्धतामपि

Transliteration

tatastu vaiṣṇavī māyā vṛṇotyatyantamohinī / bālatvaṃ tvatha kaumāraṃ yauvanaṃ vṛddhatāmapi

Translation

Thereafter, the supremely deluding Vaiṣṇavī Māyā envelops the embodied being, covering it with the states of childhood, then boyhood, youth, and even old age.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय; कालबोधक (then)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष/विरोधबोधक-अव्यय (particle)

• वैष्णवी: Vaiṣṇavī (pertaining to Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• वृणोति: chooses/covers/envelops
• वृणोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु; वृञ् वरणे)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अत्यन्तमोहिनी: utterly deluding
• अत्यन्तमोहिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त + मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अत्यन्तं मोहिनी)

• बालत्वम्: childhood
• बालत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तु: and/then
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विशेषबोधक-अव्यय (particle)

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय (sequencer)

• कौमारम्: boyhood/juvenile stage
• कौमारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यौवनम्: youth
• यौवनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वृद्धताम्: old age
• वृद्धताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Addition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiṣṇavī Māyā veils the jiva through successive āśrama-like life stages and identifications.

Vedantic Theme: Avidya/Māyā as āvaraṇa (veiling) producing dehātma-buddhi; liberation requires discernment and devotion beyond the guṇas.

Application: Practice self-inquiry and bhakti to avoid being fully defined by age/role; cultivate remembrance (smarana) of the divine through changing phases.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: teachings on Māyā, samsara, and Vishnu-bhakti as remedy

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Maya

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaiṣṇavī Māyā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Māyā as the power that makes the jīva identify with bodily phases—infancy, youth, and old age—thereby sustaining worldly attachment and forgetfulness of the Self.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It indicates that the soul’s bondage is reinforced through identification with changing bodily conditions; recognizing these as coverings helps one move toward discernment and liberation-oriented living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat life-stages as temporary conditions rather than identity; cultivate vairāgya (detachment), steady dharma, and remembrance of the divine beyond bodily change.