Shloka 90

Invocations, Definition and Authority of Purāṇa, Pulastya–Bhīṣma Frame, and the Creation–Dissolution Schema

Devanagari script

गुणव्यंजनसंभूतः सर्गकाले नराधिप । सात्विको राजसश्चैव तामसश्च त्रिधा महान्

Transliteration

guṇavyaṃjanasaṃbhūtaḥ sargakāle narādhipa | sātviko rājasaścaiva tāmasaśca tridhā mahān

Translation

أيها الملك، عند زمن الخلق تنبثق التجلّيات العظمى من دلائل الغونات، فتغدو ثلاثية: ساتفِكَا، وراجسَا، وتامسَا.

Word by Word

• गुणव्यंजनसंभूतः: arisen from the manifesting guṇas
• गुणव्यंजनसंभूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-व्यञ्जन-सम्भूत (प्रातिपदिक; गुण + व्यञ्जन + सम्भूत)
• Form: समासान्त-विशेषणम्; सम्भूत = भू (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• सर्गकाले: at the time of creation
• सर्गकाले: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग-काल (प्रातिपदिक; सर्ग + काल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• नराधिप: O king (lord of men)
• नराधिप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-अधिप (प्रातिपदिक; नर + अधिप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

• सात्विकः: sāttvic
• सात्विकः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• राजसः: rājasic
• राजसः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction: 'and')

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: emphasis 'indeed/only')

• तामसः: tāmasic
• तामसः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• त्रिधा: threefold
• त्रिधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'in three ways')

• महान्: great
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Unspecified narrator addressing a king (narādhipa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजसश्चैव = राजसः + च + एव; तामसश्च = तामसः + च

FAQs

What is meant by the verse being “threefold” (tridhā)?

It states that the manifested principle in creation differentiates into three modes according to the guṇas: sāttvika (clarity), rājasa (activity), and tāmasa (inertia).

Does this verse describe a Sāṃkhya-style view of creation?

Yes. The language of guṇas and their role in producing differentiated manifestation aligns closely with Sāṃkhya categories commonly used in Purāṇic cosmology.

What is the ethical or practical takeaway from the triguna teaching here?

It encourages discernment of how actions, thoughts, and dispositions are shaped by sattva, rajas, and tamas—supporting cultivation of sāttvika qualities for clarity and balance.