Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

महत्तत्त्वसमुत्पत्ता उपादानं खगेश्वर / त्रयोदशांशा विज्ञेया द्वादशाशं रजः स्मृतम्

Transliteration

mahattattvasamutpattā upādānaṃ khageśvara / trayodaśāṃśā vijñeyā dvādaśāśaṃ rajaḥ smṛtam

Translation

يا سيّد الطير (خَغيشڤرا)، إنّ الأساس المادّي (أوبادانا) الناشئ من مبدأ المَهَت ينبغي أن يُفهم أنّه مؤلَّف من ثلاثة عشر جزءًا؛ ومن بينها تُذكَر اثنا عشر جزءًا على أنّها رَجَس (صفة الحركة والاندفاع).

Word by Word

• महत्-तत्त्व-समुत्पत्ताः: arisen from the Mahat principle
• महत्-तत्त्व-समुत्पत्ताः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + समुत्पत्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (महत् तत्त्वम् यस्य/यतः समुत्पत्तिः—‘arising from Mahat-tattva’); adjective to implied ‘(भागाः/अंशाः)’

• उपादानम्: material cause, constituent
• उपादानम्: कर्म/विधेय (Object/predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपादान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

• त्रयोदशांशाः: thirteen parts
• त्रयोदशांशाः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदश + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रयोदश अंशाः)

• विज्ञेयाः: are to be understood
• विज्ञेयाः: विधेय (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: यत्/अनीयर्-भावे ‘विज्ञेय’ (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agreeing with त्रयोदशांशाः

• द्वादशांशम्: twelve parts
• द्वादशांशम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्वादश अंशम्)

• रजः: rajas
• रजः: सम्बन्ध/विधेय (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is said/considered
• स्मृतम्: कर्मणि-भाव (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is considered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahat-tattva as upādāna (material basis) with a quantified predominance of rajas portions.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti-guṇa-vyavasthā and tattva-viveka as preparatory discrimination (viveka) for detachment.

Application: Use guṇa-analysis to recognize rājasic agitation in mind/behavior and cultivate steadiness through sāttvika choices (diet, conduct, study).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khaṇḍa/3.4) surrounding guṇa-tattva exposition on Mahat, ahaṅkāra, tanmātras and indriyas (contextual continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Mahat-tattva
• Rajas

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahat-tattva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Mahat-tattva as a key cosmic principle from which the material basis (upādāna) is described, framing creation in a tattva-based (Sāṅkhya-like) sequence.

How does this verse explain rajas in creation?

It emphasizes rajas as the dominant active component—twelve parts—within the described upādāna arising from Mahat, highlighting activity as a major driver in manifested processes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize rajas as the force behind restlessness and constant action; cultivate balance through disciplined conduct and sattvic habits so activity serves dharma rather than agitation.