Shloka 55
Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority
ब्रह्माण्डलैङ्ग्ये ब्रह्मवैवर्तकं वै मार्कंण्डेयं ब्राह्ममादित्यकं च / एतान्या हुस्तामसानीति विप्रास्तत्रैकदेशः सात्त्विको राजसश्च
brahmāṇḍalaiṅgye brahmavaivartakaṃ vai mārkaṃṇḍeyaṃ brāhmamādityakaṃ ca / etānyā hustāmasānīti viprāstatraikadeśaḥ sāttviko rājasaśca
Brahmāṇḍa und Liṅga, das Brahma-vaivartaka, das Mārkaṇḍeya, das Brāhma und das Āditya—gelehrte Brāhmaṇas erklären diese als überwiegend tāmasische Purāṇas; doch finden sich darin auch Abschnitte, die sāttvisch sind, und andere, die rājasisch sind.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Guṇa-based hermeneutics: texts may be predominantly tāmasic yet contain sāttvika and rājasika portions; discernment is required.
Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-traya and adhikāra-bheda; relative authority of teachings conditioned by guṇas; need for discrimination (viveka) in śravaṇa.
Application: Choose study material according to one’s aim (tattva-jijñāsā vs. other aims); when reading mixed texts, privilege sāttvika passages and interpret tāmasika material cautiously.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.56-59 (continuation on recitation fitness and merit of listening)
FAQs
This verse frames Purāṇas by dominant guṇa (sattva/rajas/tamas), guiding readers toward texts and passages aligned with their spiritual aim, while acknowledging mixed sections within a single Purāṇa.
No. It says they are regarded as predominantly tāmasic, but explicitly notes that some portions within them are sāttvic and some are rājasik.
When studying or citing Purāṇic material, evaluate the tone and intent of the specific passage (sattva/rajas/tamas) rather than assuming the entire text has a single uniform teaching.