Shloka 5
Dṛṣṭānta on Siddhi: Pitṛ-Procedure, Non-Delusion, and Vyākaraṇa Classifications
अमी अश्वाः षडस्येति तन्न वाक् षड्दलानि च / तच्चरेत्तल्लु नातीति तज्जलं तच्छ्मशानकम्
amī aśvāḥ ṣaḍasyeti tanna vāk ṣaḍdalāni ca / taccarettallu nātīti tajjalaṃ tacchmaśānakam
“अमी अश्वाः षडास्याः” इति वाक्यं न सत्यम्; न च तत्र षड्दलानि। एतादृशैर्मोहवाक्यैर्न विमुह्येत्, अग्रे गच्छेत्; सा ‘तरणी’ न तरणिः। यज्जलं दृश्यते तत् श्मशानमेव—भयङ्करमायारूपेण जनान् भ्रमयितुं कल्पितम्।
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Viveka (discernment) to reject misleading appearances and false claims; do not be deluded by illusory ‘crossings’.
Vedantic Theme: Māyā/avidyā causing misperception; liberation begins with discrimination between satya and asatya.
Application: Verify claims, avoid superstition and sensational signs; cultivate steady discrimination in crisis/transition moments.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: liminal threshold/ford-like passage near a cremation-ground
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: motifs of deceptive visions and perilous passages on the soul’s route (general thematic parallel)
FAQs
This verse warns that frightening or marvelous sights described as literal may be illusory; the teaching is to remain steady and continue the journey without being misled by appearances.
It presents the after-death path as containing misleading perceptions; the traveler (preta/jiva) must ‘move on’ rather than accept every vision as factual, implying the journey includes tests of fear and attachment.
Cultivate discernment and steadiness: do not panic at fearful appearances, do not chase sensational claims, and keep to dharma and disciplined practice—especially during mourning and post-death rites.