Shloka 12

Hymns to Nārāyaṇa: Humility, Bhakti, Yoga, and the Guṇas

Devanagari script

कोणाधिपो निरृतिश्च प्रावही प्रवहप्रिया / चत्वार एते पर्जन्यात्त्रिगुणाः परिकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

koṇādhipo nirṛtiśca prāvahī pravahapriyā / catvāra ete parjanyāttriguṇāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Translation

Koṇādhipa und Nirṛti, dazu Prāvahī und Pravahapriyā—diese vier werden als die drei Qualitäten (triguṇa) gepriesen, die aus Parjanya, dem regenbringenden Prinzip, hervorgehen.

Word by Word

• कोणाधिपः: lord of a quarter/corner
• कोणाधिपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोण + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कोणस्य अधिपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• निरृतिः: Nirṛti
• निरृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• प्रावही: Prāvahī
• प्रावही: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रावही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Proper noun

• प्रवहप्रिया: beloved of Pravaha (name)
• प्रवहप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवह + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रवहस्य प्रिया); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (numeral)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• पर्जन्यात्: from Parjanya
• पर्जन्यात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु; source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्जन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• त्रिगुणाः: having three qualities / threefold
• त्रिगुणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रयो गुणाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (qualifying एते)

• परिकीर्तिताः: are declared
• परिकीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; PPP = 'are described'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Triguṇa as a structuring principle manifesting through deities/forces connected with rain and directions.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti-guṇa-vikāra (Sāṅkhya-Vedānta interface): qualities as modes of manifestation rather than ultimate reality.

Application: Cultivate discernment (viveka) by seeing changing phenomena as guṇa-play; reduce attachment to transient modes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-directional sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (cosmology/creation lists where triguṇa and directional deities are enumerated; adjacent 3.8.13–16 shift to bhakti teaching)

Characters & Entities

• Nirṛti
• Parjanya
• Koṇādhipa
• Prāvahī
• Pravahapriyā

FAQs

What is the importance of triguṇa (three qualities) in this Garuda Purana verse?

It frames certain deities/forces as expressions of the three guṇas, indicating that cosmic functions (direction, dissolution, and flow) operate through sattva, rajas, and tamas.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond death rituals?

Alongside afterlife material, the Garuda Purana also teaches cosmology: this verse links rainfall/Parjanya to divine forces and guṇas, showing how the world’s processes are structured.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to observe how the guṇas shape behavior and environments—cultivating sattva (clarity) while regulating rajas (restlessness) and tamas (inertia).