Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

उवाच पर मप्रीत्या संस्तुवन् गरुडं हरिः / श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / रजोराश्या तमोराश्या सत्त्वराश्यधिका सदा

Transliteration

uvāca para maprītyā saṃstuvan garuḍaṃ hariḥ / śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / rajorāśyā tamorāśyā sattvarāśyadhikā sadā

Translation

Hari pries Garuḍa in höchster Zuneigung und sprach. Śrī Kṛṣṇa sagte: „Obwohl die Masse von rajas und die Masse von tamas vorhanden sind, ist die Masse von sattva stets vorherrschend.“

Word by Word

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परम्: greatly
• परम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative): ‘परम्’ = ‘अत्यन्तम्/बहु’

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• संस्तुवन्: praising
• संस्तुवन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-भाव

• गरुडम्: Garuḍa
• गरुडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रीकृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (honorific epithet)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रजः-राश्या: than the mass of rajas
• रजः-राश्या: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘रजसः राशि’)

• तमः-राश्या: than the mass of tamas
• तमः-राश्या: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘तमसः राशि’)

• सत्त्व-राशि-अधिका: the mass of sattva is greater
• सत्त्व-राशि-अधिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘सत्त्वस्य राशि’)+विशेषण ‘अधिका’ (greater)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari / Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even when rajas and tamas are present, sattva can be predominant; guṇas are assessed by predominance (prādhānya).

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-traya viveka as a prerequisite for vairāgya and sāttvika orientation; prakṛti’s modalities are distinct from the Self.

Application: Cultivate sāttvika habits (diet, speech, company, study) so sattva predominates even amid unavoidable rajas/tamas influences.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda/ācāra sections): guṇa-traya descriptions and their fruits; Garuda Purana: teachings to Garuḍa framed as Kṛṣṇa/Hari’s instruction

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Hari
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames spiritual instruction by stating that even when rajas and tamas are present, sattva should be cultivated as the dominant quality, supporting clarity, dharma, and right conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

By emphasizing sattva’s predominance, it implies that a sattvic mind and conduct prepare the individual for a higher post-death trajectory—greater discernment, fewer binding impulses, and a more dharmic transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose habits that increase sattva—truthfulness, moderation, purity, study, prayer, and compassion—while reducing rajasic agitation and tamasic negligence.