Shloka 37

Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude

मायी सदा मायिभृत्यस्तथापि भेदज्ञानान्निन्द्यते कार्यते च / तेनापि तेषां दुः खवृद्धिर्भवेच्च ह्यधं तमः पुनरावृत्तिहीनम्

māyī sadā māyibhṛtyastathāpi bhedajñānānnindyate kāryate ca / tenāpi teṣāṃ duḥ khavṛddhirbhavecca hyadhaṃ tamaḥ punarāvṛttihīnam

മായിയെ മായാബദ്ധരായ ഭൃത്യർ നിത്യമായി സേവിച്ചാലും, ഭേദജ്ഞാനദോഷം മൂലം അവർ നിന്ദിക്കപ്പെടുകയും ബന്ധകർമ്മത്തിലേക്ക് തള്ളപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ അവരുടെ ദുഃഖം വർദ്ധിക്കുന്നു; അവർ തിരിച്ചുവരവില്ലാത്ത അധമ തമസ്സിലേക്കു വീഴുന്നു।

māyīa deceitful person/illusionist
māyī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
sadāalways
sadā:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsadā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time
māyi-bhṛtyaḥservant of a deceitful one
māyi-bhṛtyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmāyin (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: māyinaḥ bhṛtyaḥ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
tathāpieven so, nevertheless
tathāpi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā + api (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; concessive particle (अपि) with adverb (तथा)
bheda-jñānātfrom (their) discriminatory knowledge
bheda-jñānāt:
Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
TypeNoun
Rootbheda (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: ‘knowledge of difference’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)
nindyateis censured
nindyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootnind (धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्/present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular (एकवचन); passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग)
kāryateis made/done
kāryate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्/present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular (एकवचन); passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग)
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)
tenaby that/thereby
tena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
apialso/even
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; particle (निपात)
teṣāmof them
teṣām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)
duḥkha-vṛddhiḥincrease of suffering
duḥkha-vṛddhiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootduḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
bhavetwould occur
bhavet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
FormVidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular (एकवचन)
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)
adhamlowest
adham:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootadhama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally with tamaḥ
tamaḥdarkness (hellish state)
tamaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottamas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
punar-āvṛtti-hīnamwithout return (irreversible)
punar-āvṛtti-hīnam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpunar (अव्यय) + āvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (नञ्-रहितार्थ: ‘devoid of return’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying tamaḥ

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Concept: Mistaken divisive cognition (bheda-jñāna) under māyā leads to bondage-driven action and escalating duḥkha, culminating in a fall into profound darkness.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā produces kartṛtva-bhoktṛtva and saṃsāra; tamas as the end-state of entrenched ignorance; need for right knowledge and devotion to transcend māyā.

Application: Reduce divisive, contemptuous thinking; cultivate non-dual vision through study, meditation, and devotion; observe how wrong views compel reactive actions and correct them early.

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.35 (māyā as cause of opposed appearances); Garuda Purana 3.3.36 (offense blocks liberation)

V
Vishnu
G
Garuda
M
Maya (as principle of delusion)

FAQs

This verse treats bheda-jñāna as a core error that fuels blameworthy, binding action and thereby multiplies suffering, leading the soul into deeper darkness.

By linking delusion and compulsive action to increasing duḥkha and descent into adhaḥ-tamas, it frames afterlife destinations as consequences of ignorance-driven karma rather than mere fate.

Cultivate discernment (viveka), reduce divisive thinking, and act ethically without bondage to delusion—so karma does not accumulate into greater suffering and spiritual decline.