Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

गरुड उवाच / महत्तत्तवस्वरूपस्य ज्ञानार्थं देवकीसुत / त्वयोक्ता गुणवैषम्यनामिका सृष्टिरुत्तमा

Transliteration

garuḍa uvāca / mahattattavasvarūpasya jñānārthaṃ devakīsuta / tvayoktā guṇavaiṣamyanāmikā sṛṣṭiruttamā

Translation

Garuḍa said: O son of Devakī, in order to understand the true nature of Mahat-tattva, you have taught the excellent account of creation known as the “creation through the differentiation of the guṇas.”

Word by Word

• garuḍaḥ: Garuḍa
• garuḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mahat-tattva-svarūpasya: of the nature/form of Mahat-tattva
• mahat-tattva-svarūpasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सम्बन्ध)

• jñāna-artham: for the knowledge (purpose)
• jñāna-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• devakī-suta: O son of Devakī
• devakī-suta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devakī (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘son of Devakī’

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्तृकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• uktā: spoken/mentioned
• uktā: Karma-bhāva (कर्मभावः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; passive participle agreeing with sṛṣṭiḥ

• guṇa-vaiṣamya-nāmikā: called ‘guṇa-vaiṣamya’
• guṇa-vaiṣamya-nāmikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vaiṣamya (प्रातिपदिक) + nāmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘named as guṇa-vaiṣamya’

• sṛṣṭiḥ: creation
• sṛṣṭiḥ: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• uttamā: excellent/supreme
• uttamā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with sṛṣṭiḥ

Speaker

Garuḍa (Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The purpose of the cosmogonic account is epistemic: to know Mahat-tattva’s true nature through understanding guṇa-differentiation in creation.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa–manana orientation: inquiry (praśna) as a means to tattva-jñāna; Bhagavān as the ultimate teacher.

Application: Adopt the Garuḍa posture: ask for definitions and mechanisms, not just narratives; study creation-tattvas to refine discrimination between Self and guṇa-made phenomena.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.15 (explicit request for meaning); Garuda Purana 3.4.13 (definition of guṇa-vaiṣamya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Devakīsuta (Lord Vishnu/Kṛṣṇa)
• Mahat-tattva
• Guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights Mahat-tattva (cosmic intellect) as a key principle whose nature is understood through the Purana’s explanation of creation arising from the differentiation of the three guṇas.

How does this verse explain the process of creation?

It points to ‘guṇa-vaiṣamya’—the imbalance or differentiation of sattva, rajas, and tamas—as the explanatory framework for how creation unfolds from subtle principles like Mahat-tattva.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observing how guṇas shape one’s mind and actions encourages ethical self-discipline—cultivating sattva (clarity) and reducing rajas/tamas supports steadier judgment and dharmic living.