Shloka 42

An Exposition of the Distinctions of Creation, Inert Matter, and the Lord

Devanagari script

सम्यक् भवति पक्षीन्द्र तथैकांशेन चाण्डज / तमोराश्या मिश्रितं च भवत्येव न संशयः

Transliteration

samyak bhavati pakṣīndra tathaikāṃśena cāṇḍaja / tamorāśyā miśritaṃ ca bhavatyeva na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

يا سيّد الطير، يا مولودَ البيضة، يكون الأمر على ذلك الوجه على نحوٍ صحيح؛ غير أنّه في جزءٍ واحد يمتزج حقًّا بكتلةٍ من الظلمة، ظلمةِ تَمَس (tamas)، ولا ريب في ذلك.

Word by Word

• सम्यक्: properly/fully
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय; adverb ‘properly/completely’

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘becomes/is’

• पक्षि-इन्द्र: O king of birds
• पक्षि-इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘पक्षिणाम् इन्द्रः’); vocative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय; adverb ‘thus/likewise’

• एक-अंशेन: by one part
• एक-अंशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘एकस्य अंशः’); instrumental singular ‘by one part’

• चाण्डज: O egg-born (Garuḍa)
• चाण्डज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāṇḍaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; vocative singular

• तमः-राश्या: with the mass of tamas
• तमः-राश्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘तमसः राशिः’); instrumental singular ‘with/by the mass of tamas’

• मिश्रितम्: mixed
• मिश्रितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: miśr (धातु) + miśrita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘mixed’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; ‘and’

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात; emphatic particle ‘indeed/only’

• न: no/not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय; negation ‘not/no’

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even when properly constituted, one portion is mixed with tamas (a ‘mass of darkness’), indicating inherent guṇa-admixture.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti’s guṇas are inseparable in manifestation; purity in the phenomenal is relative, not absolute.

Application: Recognize tamas as a predictable component in embodied life (inertia, confusion); counterbalance through sāttvika habits and reflective awareness rather than denial.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.41; Garuda Purana 3.4.43; Garuda Purana 3.4.45

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of tamas (darkness) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that even when something is properly constituted, a portion can remain mixed with tamas, indicating the persistent influence of spiritual inertia and obscuration that must be overcome through dharma and right knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By pointing to a mixture with tamas, it suggests why the jiva can experience confusion, attachment, and karmic bondage—factors that shape post-death outcomes and the need for purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize tamasic tendencies (laziness, delusion, harmful habits) and counter them with sattvic discipline—ethical living, study, prayer, and mindful actions that reduce inner darkness.