Shloka 26
Ajāna Lineages, Divine Classes, Ṛṣi Catalogues, and the Merit of Śravaṇa-Smaraṇa
इदं तु स्तवनं विप्रा न पठन्तीह मानवाः / न शृण्वन्ति च ये नित्यं ते सर्वे चैव मायिनः
idaṃ tu stavanaṃ viprā na paṭhantīha mānavāḥ / na śṛṇvanti ca ye nityaṃ te sarve caiva māyinaḥ
हे विप्रहो! जे मनुष्य हे स्तवन पठत नाहीत आणि नित्य ऐकतही नाहीत, ते सर्व मायेने मोहित झालेले आहेत.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Neglect of sacred praise (stavana) and regular listening/recitation indicates māyā-moha; remedy is nitya śravaṇa and pāṭha.
Vedantic Theme: Māyā as deluding power; viveka awakened through śravaṇa (hearing) and smṛti (remembrance) oriented to Bhagavān.
Application: Establish a routine of listening/reciting; reduce distractions; treat spiritual ‘input’ as daily nourishment for discernment.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.9.25 (benefits of the practice); Garuda Purana 3.9.27 (consequence of eating without remembrance)
FAQs
This verse frames daily recitation (pāṭha) and listening (śravaṇa) as a protective spiritual discipline; neglecting it is described as a symptom of being overpowered by māyā.
Rather than describing a specific after-death route here, the verse emphasizes a prerequisite for right understanding: consistent engagement with sacred instruction, without which one remains deluded and unprepared for dharmic consequences.
Maintain a steady routine of reading or listening to a selected hymn/section with attention; treat it as daily mental training against distraction, self-deception, and ethical drift.