Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

तमसो दशभागानां मध्ये तु विनतासुत / य एको भाग उद्दिष्टस्तावत्परिमितं रजः

Transliteration

tamaso daśabhāgānāṃ madhye tu vinatāsuta / ya eko bhāga uddiṣṭastāvatparimitaṃ rajaḥ

Translation

O son of Vinatā, within the tenfold division of darkness (tamas), the single part that is specified has a measure exactly equal to dust (rajas).

Word by Word

• tamasaḥ: of tamas
• tamasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• daśa-bhāgānām: of the ten parts
• daśa-bhāgānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural; dvigu compound meaning ‘ten parts’

• madhye: among; in the midst
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in the middle/among’

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• vinatā-suta: O son of Vinatā
• vinatā-suta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinatā (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular; संबोधन

• yaḥ: which
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies bhāgaḥ

• bhāgaḥ: part
• bhāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• uddiṣṭaḥ: specified
• uddiṣṭaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-diś (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with bhāgaḥ

• tāvat: to that extent
• tāvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (परिमाणवाचक)

• parimitaṃ: measured; limited
• parimitaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-mā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicative with rajaḥ

• rajaḥ: rajas
• rajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Quantification/gradation of tamas and its specified fraction; guṇa-analysis as a way to understand manifestation.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇas as prakṛti’s modalities; discernment (viveka) begins by seeing gradations rather than treating ‘darkness’ as monolithic.

Application: Use guṇa-language to diagnose mental states: identify ‘tamas’ in degrees, then apply sattva-increasing disciplines (sleep regulation, clarity practices, sāttvika diet, japa).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.32-35 (continuation on tamas/rajas admixture and predominance of sattva; transition to rāśi/parts query)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Vinata-suta)

FAQs

What is the importance of measuring tamas and rajas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames tamas (darkness) and rajas (dust/fine matter) in a proportional, measurable way, supporting the Purana’s broader aim of describing subtle realms and conditions with technical clarity.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Preta Kanda?

Preta Kanda often explains the post-death environment using concrete measures; this proportional definition helps depict the subtle atmosphere and experiential conditions a preta may encounter in Yama’s domains and transitional paths.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat “darkness” as a gradation that can be reduced: cultivate sattva through ethical living, discipline, and remembrance of dharma, so the inner tamas that clouds judgment becomes progressively diminished.