Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

एकांशस्तमसो ज्ञेयस्तद्दशां शाधिकं रजः / तच्छतांशाधिकं सत्त्वमेवमाहुर्मनीषिणः

Transliteration

ekāṃśastamaso jñeyastaddaśāṃ śādhikaṃ rajaḥ / tacchatāṃśādhikaṃ sattvamevamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ

Translation

Wisset, dass tamas einen Teil ausmacht; rajas ist um zehn Teile größer als dieser; und sattva ist um hundert Teile größer als das — so verkünden es die Weisen.

Word by Word

• eka-aṃśaḥ: one part
• eka-aṃśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ekaḥ aṃśaḥ = one part)

• tamasaḥ: of tamas (darkness)
• tamasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• jñeyaḥ: is to be known
• jñeyaḥ: Vidheyabhāva (विधेय/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धाातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be known)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संकेतक (that)

• daśāṃ: tenfold measure
• daśāṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; परिमाण-निर्देश (tenfold state/measure)

• śa-adhikam: exceeding by one
• śa-adhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śa (प्रातिपदिक; here ‘one’ as in śatāṃśa/śa=1) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (śa + adhika = one more/exceeding by one)

• rajaḥ: rajas (activity)
• rajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śata-aṃśa-adhikam: exceeding by a hundredth
• śata-aṃśa-adhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata + aṃśa + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (śatāṃśa + adhika = exceeding by a hundredth/with hundred-part excess)

• sattvam: sattva (purity)
• sattvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• manīṣiṇaḥ: the sages/wise ones
• manīṣiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manīṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Relative magnitudes of guṇas: tamas (1), rajas (10×), sattva (100×) as taught by the wise—suggesting a hierarchy or scaling in manifestation/clarity.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-tāratamya (gradation) and the possibility of increasing sattva for inner illumination; groundwork for sāttvika upāsanā and viveka.

Application: Treat sattva as cultivable ‘multiplier’: increase clarity through study, truthfulness, moderation; reduce tamas (sloth, intoxication) and regulate rajas (restlessness).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.71–75 (same proportional discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Manishis (sages)
• Tamas
• Rajas
• Sattva

FAQs

What is the importance of the three guṇas in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames a hierarchy among tamas, rajas, and sattva, implying that spiritual clarity (sattva) is vastly superior and should be cultivated for right conduct and higher understanding.

How does this verse relate to a person’s spiritual progress?

By presenting sattva as ‘hundredfold’ greater, the text signals that growth in purity and discernment is the key driver of upliftment, while tamas and rajas bind one to confusion and restless action.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose habits that increase sattva—truthfulness, moderation, clean food, prayer/meditation, and charity—while reducing tamasic negligence and rajasic agitation in daily decisions.