Shloka 69

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

ततस्तं वैष्णवी माया समास्कन्दति मोहिनी / तया विमोहितात्मासौ ज्ञानभ्रंशमवाप्नुते

Transliteration

tatastaṃ vaiṣṇavī māyā samāskandati mohinī / tayā vimohitātmāsau jñānabhraṃśamavāpnute

Translation

Then the enchanting Vaiṣṇavī Māyā overtakes him; deluded by her, that self falls into the loss of true knowledge and discernment.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thereafter)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वैष्णवी: Vishnu’s, Vaiṣṇavī
• वैष्णवी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying माया)

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

• समास्कन्दति: assails, overcomes, attacks
• समास्कन्दति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्कन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मोहिनी: deluding, enchanting
• मोहिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying माया)

• तया: by her/that (māyā)
• तया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विमोहित-आत्मा: one whose self is deluded
• विमोहित-आत्मा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-मोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः (कर्मधारय)

• असौ: he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ज्ञान-भ्रंशम्: loss of knowledge
• ज्ञान-भ्रंशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष)

• अवाप्नुते: attains, comes to
• अवाप्नुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Māyā (the Lord’s power) deludes the embodied self, causing jñāna-bhraṃśa (loss of true discernment) and reinforcing saṃsāric identification.

Vedantic Theme: Āvaraṇa/ vikṣepa-śakti; jīva’s avidyā leading to dehābhimāna; īśvara-śakti as cosmic order of concealment.

Application: Counter delusion through śravaṇa-manana, daily self-inquiry, and bhakti practices that keep remembrance (smṛti) alive; reduce sensory over-stimulation that strengthens moha.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: psychological/ontological state

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.70-72 (life-stages, saṃsāra-cakra, karma-phala as svarga/naraka)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Maya

FAQs

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

This verse presents Vaiṣṇavī Māyā as the divine power that overwhelms the individual and produces confusion, explaining why the jīva can lose clear discernment during critical transitions like the post-death journey.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It indicates that the soul’s journey is not merely physical but psychological and subtle: delusion can overtake the self, leading to jñānabhraṃśa—loss of right understanding—unless supported by dharma, remembrance, and proper guidance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate clarity through dharmic living, study, and remembrance of the divine; the verse warns that unchecked delusion leads to poor choices and loss of discrimination, which traditions address through right conduct and supportive rites.