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Shloka 4

कार्त्तिकेय-जन्मोपक्रमः

Prelude to the Birth of Kārttikeya/Skanda

मोहात्मकं तमस्तेषां रज एषां प्रवर्तकम्‌ । प्रकाशबहुलत्वाच्च सत्त्वं ज्याय इहोच्यते,इन तीनों गुणोंमें जो तमोगुण है वह मोहात्मक--मोह उत्पन्न करनेवाला है। रजोगुण कर्मोमें प्रवृत्त करनेवाला है। परंतु सत्त्वगुणमें प्रकाशकी बहुलता है, इसलिये वह सबसे श्रेष्ठ कहा जाता है

mohātmakaṃ tamas teṣāṃ raja eṣāṃ pravartakam | prakāśa-bahulatvāc ca sattvaṃ jyāya ihochyate ||

قال الصيّاد: «من بين هذه الغونات الثلاث، فإنّ تامس (tamas) ذو طبيعةٍ مُضلِّلة—يولِّد الحيرة والالتباس. وأمّا راجس (rajas) فيدفع الكائنات إلى الفعل والحركة. غير أنّ ساتفا (sattva) يفيض بالصفاء والنور؛ ولذلك يُعلَن في هذا العالم أنّه الأسمى».

मोहात्मकम्of the nature of delusion; delusion-causing
मोहात्मकम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमोहात्मक
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तमःdarkness; tamas (the quality of inertia)
तमः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतमस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तेषाम्of them (of those [guṇas])
तेषाम्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
रजःrajas (the quality of activity/passion)
रजः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरजस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
एषाम्of these (of these [beings/people])
एषाम्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
प्रवर्तकम्impelling; causing to engage (in action)
प्रवर्तकम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रवर्तक
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
प्रकाशlight; illumination
प्रकाश:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootप्रकाश
FormMasculine, Instrumental (as compound-member base), Singular
बहुलत्वात्because of abundance
बहुलत्वात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootबहुलत्व
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सत्त्वम्sattva (the quality of clarity/goodness)
सत्त्वम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्व
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
ज्यायःsuperior; greater
ज्यायः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootज्यायस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इहhere; in this context
इह:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह
उच्यतेis said; is called
उच्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

व्याध उवाच

V
vyādha (the hunter; speaker)
T
tamas
R
rajas
S
sattva

Educational Q&A

It defines the ethical-psychological functions of the three guṇas: tamas causes delusion, rajas drives restless activity, and sattva—rich in clarity—supports discernment and is therefore regarded as superior for right living.

In the Vyādha’s instruction (the hunter-teacher episode), he explains foundational principles of inner nature (guṇas) to guide the listener toward clearer judgment and dharmic conduct.