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Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

जातक्षोभाद्भगवतो महानासीद्गुणत्रयात् / गुणत्रये विद्यमानाद्भागादेव न संशयः

Transliteration

jātakṣobhādbhagavato mahānāsīdguṇatrayāt / guṇatraye vidyamānādbhāgādeva na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

When the Lord’s primordial stirring arose, the Great Principle (Mahān) came forth from the three guṇas. And because it arises from the portion present within the triad of guṇas, there is no doubt of this.

Word by Word
जात-क्षोभात्from the arisen agitation
जात-क्षोभात्:
Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
TypeNoun
Rootजात (कृदन्त, √जन् धातु; क्त/PPP) + क्षोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जातः क्षोभः यस्मात्/जातक्षोभात् = from the arisen agitation)
भगवतःof the Lord
भगवतः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
महान्Mahat (the Great principle)
महान्:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootमहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष्य (as noun: the Great principle/Mahat)
आसीत्was/arose
आसीत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
गुण-त्रयात्from the three guṇas
गुण-त्रयात्:
Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
TypeNoun
Rootगुण (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः
गुण-त्रयेin the three guṇas
गुण-त्रये:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootगुण (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः
विद्यमानात्existing/present
विद्यमानात्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootविद्यमान (कृदन्त, √विद् धातु; शतृ/Present participle)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; विशेषण (existing/present)
भागात्from a portion
भागात्:
Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
TypeNoun
Rootभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन
एवindeed/only
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (only/indeed)
नno/not
न:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय
संशयःdoubt
संशयः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootसंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahat (the Great Principle) arises when Bhagavān’s primordial impulse disturbs the equilibrium of the three guṇas; causation is traced to guṇa-based prakṛti under divine impetus.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as nimitta-kāraṇa (efficient cause) with prakṛti/guṇas as upādāna (material cause); emergence of tattvas from guṇa-vikṣobha.

Application: Contemplate guṇa-dynamics in one’s mind: notice how ‘stirring’ (vikṣobha) gives rise to thought-structures; cultivate sattva to stabilize Mahat-like clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.13 (guṇa-vaiṣamya as creation principle); Garuda Purana 3.4.12 (subsequent emanations from Mahat)

Characters & Entities
B
Bhagavan
M
Mahān
G
Guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas)

FAQs

This verse identifies Mahān as the first major principle that manifests when the Lord’s creative stirring occurs, linking creation to the three guṇas as the operative basis of manifestation.

It states that Mahān arises from the triguna, implying that the guṇas—present as an aspect within prakṛti—become active due to the Lord’s impulse and generate the first evolute (cosmic intellect).

Recognize how sattva, rajas, and tamas shape thought and action; cultivate sattva (clarity, restraint, truthfulness) to align the mind with higher discernment (buddhi/Mahān-like clarity).

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