Shloka 76

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

Devanagari script

सत्त्वांशो बहुलो यस्माच्छुद्धसत्त्वं चतुर्मुखः / उत्पत्तिर्महतश्चोक्ता एवं च विनतासुत

Transliteration

sattvāṃśo bahulo yasmācchuddhasattvaṃ caturmukhaḥ / utpattirmahataścoktā evaṃ ca vinatāsuta

Translation

لأنَّ نصيبَ السَّتْفَا (sattva) هو الغالب، فإنَّ ذي الوجوه الأربعة، براهما، هو من سَتْفَا خالصة. وهكذا شُرِحَتْ النشأةُ من «مَهَت» (المبدأ العظيم)—هكذا حقًّا، يا ابنَ فينَتا (غارودا).

Word by Word

• sattva-aṃśaḥ: the sattva-portion
• sattva-aṃśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (portion of sattva)

• bahulaḥ: abundant
• bahulaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• yasmāt: because
• yasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-शब्दात् तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; हेतुवाचक (from which/because)

• śuddha-sattvam: pure sattva
• śuddha-sattvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddha + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (pure sattva)

• catur-mukhaḥ: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• catur-mukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (one who has four faces)

• utpattiḥ: origin/creation
• utpattiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahataḥ: of Mahat
• mahataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• uktā: is stated
• uktā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकृत्/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘is said’ (agreeing with utpattiḥ)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• vinatā-suta: O son of Vinatā (Garuḍa)
• vinatā-suta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinatā + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (son of Vinatā)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-suta)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa-dominance determines ontic/psychic constitution; Brahmā is characterized by śuddha-sattva; Mahat as causal principle in sṛṣṭi-krama.

Vedantic Theme: Sāṅkhya-tinged cosmology used as a ladder toward discrimination (viveka) between guṇas and the witnessing principle.

Application: Cultivate sattva (purity, clarity, restraint) to support discernment; study creation-tattvas as a framework for detachment from guṇa-driven identity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4 (sṛṣṭi-krama / guṇa-vibhāga context); Garuda Purana 3.5.1-3 (Mahat → ahaṃtattva/ahaṅkāra sequence continues)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Garuda
• Mahat (Tattva)

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahat (the Great Principle) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links creation to Mahat, presenting it as the causal principle from which further cosmic manifestation is explained in a Sāṅkhya-like framework.

How does this verse explain the nature of Brahmā (Caturmukha)?

It states that Brahmā is characterized by śuddha-sattva because sattva predominates in his constitution, indicating clarity, knowledge, and creative capacity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivating sattva—through truthfulness, restraint, clean living, and study—supports clarity of mind and dharmic decision-making, mirroring the text’s emphasis on purity as a basis for higher knowledge.