Shloka 28

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

जातानार्तान्मृतानापद्भष्टान्दृष्ट्वा च दुः खितान् / लोको मोहसुरां पीत्वा न बिभेति कदाचन

Transliteration

jātānārtānmṛtānāpadbhaṣṭāndṛṣṭvā ca duḥ khitān / loko mohasurāṃ pītvā na bibheti kadācana

Translation

Dẫu đã thấy người bị khổ não, kẻ chết, người bị tai ương làm tiêu tan, và kẻ chìm trong sầu muộn, thế gian—đã uống rượu say của mê lầm—vẫn chẳng bao giờ biết sợ (nên không tỉnh thức) vào bất cứ lúc nào.

Word by Word

• jātān: those who are born
• jātān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (जन् धातु) → jāta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ārtān: afflicted/distressed
• ārtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mṛtān: dead
• mṛtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛ (मृ धातु) → mṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• āpad-bhaṣṭān: those ruined by calamity
• āpad-bhaṣṭān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpad (प्रातिपदिक) + bhraṃś (भ्रंश्/भ्रश् धातु) → bhaṣṭa (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सप्तमी/पञ्चमी-भाव): ‘fallen into/from calamity’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having seen’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• duḥkhitān: unhappy/sorrowful
• duḥkhitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• lokaḥ: the world/people
• lokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• moha-surām: the intoxicant of delusion
• moha-surām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक) + surā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘liquor of delusion’

• pītvā: having drunk
• pītvā: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having drunk’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• bibheti: fears
• bibheti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhī (भी धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• kadācana: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय): ‘ever/at any time’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

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.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.27 (time obscured by samsara); Garuda Purana 2.49.29 (impermanence imagery)

Characters & Entities

• Loka (worldly people)
• Moha (delusion)

FAQs

What is the importance of moha (delusion) in Garuda Purana?

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.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

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.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use daily remembrance of impermanence to reduce attachment, prioritize dharma, and make conscious ethical choices instead of living carelessly despite visible suffering around you.