Shloka 18

Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons

Devanagari script

त्रिविधाकृतयस्तस्य राक्षसा असुरा: सुरा: । गुणिन्या मायया सृष्टा: सत्त्वं तत्तीर्थसाधनम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

tri-vidhākṛtayas tasya rākṣasā asurāḥ surāḥ guṇinyā māyayā sṛṣṭāḥ sattvaṁ tat tīrtha-sādhanam

Translation

The Lord manifests in three kinds of beings—Rākṣasas, Asuras, and Suras—created by His guṇa-filled māyā and bound by her modes. Yet among the three guṇas, sattva alone is the means to attain life’s highest perfection.

Synonyms

• tri-vidha-ākṛtayaḥ: forms of three kinds
• tri-vidha-ākṛtayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संख्यापूर्वक-निर्धारण): ‘त्रिविधाः आकृतयः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• rākṣasāḥ: rakshasas
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• asurāḥ: asuras
• asurāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• surāḥ: devas
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• guṇinyā: by the quality-bearing
• guṇinyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (possessed of qualities)

• māyayā: by māyā (illusion/power)
• māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• sṛṣṭāḥ: created
• sṛṣṭāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु) (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (they are) created

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

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

• tīrtha-sādhanam: a means to holy places (pilgrimage)
• tīrtha-sādhanam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपपद-भाव): ‘तीर्थस्य साधनम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Purport

In Kṛṣṇa Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “There are different kinds of people existing in the modes of material nature. Those who are in the mode of ignorance are called rākṣasas, those in the mode of passion are called asuras [demons], and those in the mode of goodness are called suras, or demigods. Under the direction of the Supreme Lord, these three classes of men are created by material nature, but those who are in the mode of goodness have a greater chance to be elevated to the spiritual world, back home, back to Godhead.”

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Suras, Asuras, and Rākṣasas?

This verse states that the Lord’s māyā, acting through the guṇas, manifests three broad dispositions—sura (godly), asura (anti-godly), and rākṣasa (violent/demonic).

Why does the Bhagavatam emphasize sattva (goodness) as a spiritual means?

Because sattva supports clarity, purity, and dharmic life, making it a practical platform for sacred purification (tīrtha-sādhanam) and steady advancement toward devotion.

Practical application: how can I cultivate sattva according to Bhagavata wisdom?

Choose purity in habits—truthfulness, compassion, clean diet and conduct, and uplifting association—so the mind becomes clear and receptive to bhakti (hearing and chanting about the Lord).