Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 23
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama
मोहाद्विनाष्टं यदि गर्भचिन्तितं स्मृतं पुनर्मृत्युगते चदेहे / तस्मिन्प्रनष्टे हृदि चिन्तितं गतं स्मृतं पुनर्गर्भगते च देहे
mohādvināṣṭaṃ yadi garbhacintitaṃ smṛtaṃ punarmṛtyugate cadehe / tasminpranaṣṭe hṛdi cintitaṃ gataṃ smṛtaṃ punargarbhagate ca dehe
若因迷妄而失却胎中所思惟者，则当具身者入于死亡之境时，便又忆起。及至那死亡之际的忆念复又散失，则先前寄藏于心、曾经思惟之事，将在再度入胎得身之时，再次被忆起。
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Smṛti/saṃskāra oscillates across births; moha causes loss of insight; death and rebirth reactivate latent impressions.
Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-driven saṃsāra: vāsanā and saṃskāra persist even when explicit memory fails; liberation requires breaking the cycle through knowledge/devotion.
Application: Do daily remembrance (smaraṇa) and self-inquiry so insight is stabilized before the death-transition; cultivate detachment to weaken moha.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: liminal states (prenatal and dying)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa teachings on death-state experiences and rebirth mechanics (general internal parallel)
FAQs
This verse indicates that impressions and contemplations can re-emerge at the death-state even if forgotten in ordinary life, showing how subtle impressions persist beyond waking identity.
It portrays a cyclic movement: prenatal contemplation is obscured by moha, recollection can surface at death, may be lost again, and then reappears upon entering the womb—implying continuity of inner impressions across transitions.
Cultivate dharmic thoughts and steady remembrance now, since deep impressions can surface at critical transitions; disciplined contemplation and ethical living shape what the mind carries forward.