Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

महत्तत्त्वसमुत्पत्ता उपादानं खगेश्वर / त्रयोदशांशा विज्ञेया द्वादशाशं रजः स्मृतम्

Transliteration

mahattattvasamutpattā upādānaṃ khageśvara / trayodaśāṃśā vijñeyā dvādaśāśaṃ rajaḥ smṛtam

Translation

O Herr der Vögel (Khageśvara), die materielle Grundlage (upādāna), die aus dem Prinzip des Mahat hervorgeht, ist als aus dreizehn Teilen bestehend zu verstehen; davon gelten zwölf Teile als rajas, die Guṇa der Tätigkeit und Leidenschaft.

Word by Word

• महत्-तत्त्व-समुत्पत्ताः: arisen from the Mahat principle
• महत्-तत्त्व-समुत्पत्ताः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + समुत्पत्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (महत् तत्त्वम् यस्य/यतः समुत्पत्तिः—‘arising from Mahat-tattva’); adjective to implied ‘(भागाः/अंशाः)’

• उपादानम्: material cause, constituent
• उपादानम्: कर्म/विधेय (Object/predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपादान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

• त्रयोदशांशाः: thirteen parts
• त्रयोदशांशाः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदश + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रयोदश अंशाः)

• विज्ञेयाः: are to be understood
• विज्ञेयाः: विधेय (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: यत्/अनीयर्-भावे ‘विज्ञेय’ (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agreeing with त्रयोदशांशाः

• द्वादशांशम्: twelve parts
• द्वादशांशम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्वादश अंशम्)

• रजः: rajas
• रजः: सम्बन्ध/विधेय (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is said/considered
• स्मृतम्: कर्मणि-भाव (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is considered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahat-tattva as upādāna (material basis) with a quantified predominance of rajas portions.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti-guṇa-vyavasthā and tattva-viveka as preparatory discrimination (viveka) for detachment.

Application: Use guṇa-analysis to recognize rājasic agitation in mind/behavior and cultivate steadiness through sāttvika choices (diet, conduct, study).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khaṇḍa/3.4) surrounding guṇa-tattva exposition on Mahat, ahaṅkāra, tanmātras and indriyas (contextual continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Mahat-tattva
• Rajas

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahat-tattva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Mahat-tattva as a key cosmic principle from which the material basis (upādāna) is described, framing creation in a tattva-based (Sāṅkhya-like) sequence.

How does this verse explain rajas in creation?

It emphasizes rajas as the dominant active component—twelve parts—within the described upādāna arising from Mahat, highlighting activity as a major driver in manifested processes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize rajas as the force behind restlessness and constant action; cultivate balance through disciplined conduct and sattvic habits so activity serves dharma rather than agitation.