Shloka 8

Kula-amṛta: Śiva’s Teaching to Nārada on Viṣṇu-Dhyāna and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

भोगैश्वर्यमदोन्मत्तस्ततत्त्वज्ञानपराङ्मुखः / पुत्रदारकुटुम्बेषु मत्ताः सीदन्तिजन्तवः

Transliteration

bhogaiśvaryamadonmattastatattvajñānaparāṅmukhaḥ / putradārakuṭumbeṣu mattāḥ sīdantijantavaḥ

Translation

Intoxicated by pleasures and the pride of worldly power, and turned away from knowledge of reality, living beings—deluded by attachment to sons, wife, and family—sink into ruin and suffering.

Word by Word

• भोगैश्वर्यमदोन्मत्तः: maddened by pleasures and power
• भोगैश्वर्यमदोन्मत्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग + ऐश्वर्य + मद + उन्मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः—भोग-ऐश्वर्य-जन्य-मदेन उन्मत्तः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास); विशेषणम् (अन्तर्निहितः ‘जन्तुः/सः’)

• ततत्त्वज्ञानपराङ्मुखः: turned away from knowledge of reality
• ततत्त्वज्ञानपराङ्मुखः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व + ज्ञान + पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्त्वज्ञानात् पराङ्मुखः (पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम्

• पुत्रदारकुटुम्बेषु: in sons, wife, and family
• पुत्रदारकुटुम्बेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + दार + कुटुम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समासः—पुत्राः च दाराः च कुटुम्बं च (समाहार-द्वन्द्व, सप्तमी-बहुवचन)

• मत्ताः: intoxicated/infatuated
• मत्ताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (जन्तवः)

• सीदन्ति: sink/decline
• सीदन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जन्तवः: creatures/beings
• जन्तवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Attachment and intoxication (mada) turn one away from tattva-jñāna, leading to suffering and ruin.

Vedantic Theme: Rāga-dveṣa and ahaṅkāra sustain saṃsāra; ignorance of reality makes transient relations appear ultimate.

Application: Practice moderation and detachment: enjoy duties without intoxication; regularly contemplate impermanence; allocate time for study, japa, and service to counter family-identity fixation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: warnings that worldly attachment intensifies fear at death and complicates the jīva’s passage (a recurring Preta-kalpa concern, though not explicit here).

Characters & Entities

• Jantavas (living beings)
• Putra (sons)
• Dara (wife)
• Kutumba (family)

FAQs

What is the importance of tattva-jñāna (knowledge of reality) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that turning away from tattva-jñāna while becoming intoxicated with pleasure and power leads beings into decline and suffering; true well-being requires spiritual discernment beyond worldly attachment.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and afterlife themes in the Garuda Purana?

The Garuda Purana repeatedly frames death and post-death consequences through karma: attachment and pride keep one bound to delusion, producing suffering that follows the jīva, whereas clarity about tattva supports right conduct and better outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use wealth and relationships responsibly without identity-clinging; cultivate humility, self-study, and remembrance of impermanence so pleasure and status do not eclipse ethical living and spiritual priorities.