Shloka 26
Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude
वदन्ति ये असुरा मूढरूपा अधंमतः प्रविशन्त्येव सर्वे / माया नाम प्रकृतिस्त्वेमाहुः सुसूक्ष्मरूपा न तु चेन्द्रजालिका
vadanti ye asurā mūḍharūpā adhaṃmataḥ praviśantyeva sarve / māyā nāma prakṛtistvemāhuḥ susūkṣmarūpā na tu cendrajālikā
那些被迷惑、具阿修罗性情、从卑下见解而发言者，皆会落入同一错误。应当知晓：所谓“摩耶”被称为“自性（Prakṛti）”，其形极其微妙，并非仅是魔术般的把戏或幻象。
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Māyā is properly understood as Prakṛti—extremely subtle; reducing it to mere stage-magic is a delusion leading to error.
Vedantic Theme: Right understanding of māyā/prakṛti as the subtle causal matrix of names/forms; critique of simplistic nihilism or trivialization of cosmic causality.
Application: Study with precision; avoid dismissing lived causality as ‘just illusion’ in a careless way; cultivate viveka (discrimination) and humility in metaphysical claims.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.25 (Indrajāla metaphor); Garuda Purana 3.3.28 (vyavahāra-satya of prakṛti)
FAQs
This verse clarifies that Māyā is not simple deception but the very Prakṛti—an extremely subtle cosmic principle that conditions perception and bondage when misunderstood.
By warning against deluded views, it implies that wrong understanding of Māyā/Prakṛti leads beings into deeper error and attachment—obscuring discrimination needed for liberation.
Treat worldly appearances as powerful and subtle conditioning (not just “fake”), and cultivate discernment, ethical restraint, and study to avoid being driven by भ्रम (delusion).