Shloka 28
Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation
जातानार्तान्मृतानापद्भष्टान्दृष्ट्वा च दुः खितान् / लोको मोहसुरां पीत्वा न बिभेति कदाचन
jātānārtānmṛtānāpadbhaṣṭāndṛṣṭvā ca duḥ khitān / loko mohasurāṃ pītvā na bibheti kadācana
പീഡിതരെയും, മരിച്ചവരെയും, ആപത്താൽ തകർന്നവരെയും, ദുഃഖത്തിൽ മുങ്ങിയവരെയും കണ്ടിട്ടും ലോകം മോഹമെന്ന മദ്യം കുടിച്ച് ഒരിക്കലും ഭയപ്പെടുന്നില്ല; ഉണരുന്നുമില്ല।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Moha is like intoxicating liquor; even seeing death and calamity, people remain unafraid and unawakened.
Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as pramāda and moha; failure of śmaśāna-vairāgya to arise; need for deliberate cultivation of viveka.
Application: Contemplate mortality (maraṇa-smṛti) and impermanence regularly; seek satsanga and śāstra to counteract moha.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.27 (time obscured by samsara); Garuda Purana 2.49.29 (impermanence imagery)
FAQs
This verse frames moha as an intoxicant that numbs discernment: even repeated encounters with death and suffering do not produce spiritual urgency unless delusion is overcome.
Indirectly, it warns that worldly intoxication with delusion prevents preparation for what follows death; the Preta Kanda repeatedly urges awareness and dharmic living so one is not caught unprepared at the time of departure.
Use daily remembrance of impermanence to reduce attachment, prioritize dharma, and make conscious ethical choices instead of living carelessly despite visible suffering around you.