Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

यथान्धकारदोषेण रज्जुः सम्यङ्नदृश्यते / यथा संमोहदोषेण चात्मा सम्यङ्नदृश्यते

Transliteration

yathāndhakāradoṣeṇa rajjuḥ samyaṅnadṛśyate / yathā saṃmohadoṣeṇa cātmā samyaṅnadṛśyate

Translation

Just as, through the fault of darkness, a rope is not seen rightly, so too, through the fault of delusion (moha), the Self (ātman) is not perceived as it truly is.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमानार्थ-निपातः) — “just as”

• andhakāra-doṣeṇa: due to the defect of darkness
• andhakāra-doṣeṇa: Karana (Instrument/Cause/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhakāra (अन्धकार-प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (दोष-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — instrumental singular; समासः: तत्पुरुष (अन्धकारस्य दोषः)

• rajjuḥ: a rope
• rajjuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajju (रज्जु-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — nominative singular

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — adverb “properly/correctly”

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध-निपातः) — negation “not”

• dṛśyate: is seen
• dṛśyate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्-धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive) — “is seen/appears”

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमानार्थ-निपातः) — “just as”

• saṃmoha-doṣeṇa: due to the defect of delusion
• saṃmoha-doṣeṇa: Karana (Instrument/Cause/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃmoha (संमोह-प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (दोष-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — instrumental singular; समासः: तत्पुरुष (संमोहस्य दोषः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-निपातः) — conjunction “and”

• ātmā: the Self
• ātmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — nominative singular

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriya-visheshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — “properly”

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध-निपातः) — “not”

• dṛśyate: is seen
• dṛśyate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्-धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive) — “is seen”

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: As darkness prevents correct seeing of a rope, delusion (moha/avidyā) prevents correct recognition of the ātman.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as the cause of adhyāsa (superimposition) and misapprehension; knowledge as removal of ignorance rather than production of a new Self.

Application: Treat confusion as ‘darkness’: cultivate viveka (discrimination) and bring ‘light’ via study of śāstra, guidance of a teacher, and sustained self-inquiry: ‘Who is the seer of this confusion?’

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.236.26-28 (snake/rope, shell/silver, mirage)

Characters & Entities

• Atman

FAQs

What is the importance of delusion (saṃmoha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that saṃmoha is a “doṣa” (fault) that blocks correct knowledge, making the ātman seem hidden or misunderstood—just as darkness hides a rope.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that the soul’s true nature is already present, but wrong perception caused by ignorance leads beings to misidentify themselves; spiritual instruction removes this delusion and restores right seeing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce “darkness” of confusion through study, reflection, and disciplined living (dharma), so decisions are made from clarity rather than fear, attachment, or mistaken identity.