Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

तदाहुर्ब्रह्मणो रूपं गुणवैषम्यनामकम् / चतुर्भागात्मकं प्रोक्तं महत्तत्त्वं श्रुतं मया

Transliteration

tadāhurbrahmaṇo rūpaṃ guṇavaiṣamyanāmakam / caturbhāgātmakaṃ proktaṃ mahattattvaṃ śrutaṃ mayā

Translation

They say that the form of Brahman is what is called the “uneven differentiation of the guṇas”; and the Mahat-tattva is declared to be fourfold in nature—so have I heard.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of Brahmā/Brahman’

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• guṇa-vaiṣamya-nāmakam: called ‘guṇa-inequality’
• guṇa-vaiṣamya-nāmakam: Karma-predicative (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + vaiṣamya + nāmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (‘named/characterized by inequality of guṇas’)

• catur-bhāga-ātmakam: four-part in nature
• catur-bhāga-ātmakam: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + bhāga + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘having the nature of four parts’)

• proktam: declared
• proktam: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त; √vac वच् धातु, उपसर्ग: pra-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘declared’

• mahat-tattvam: the Mahat principle
• mahat-tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śrutam: heard
• śrutam: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruta (कृदन्त; √śru श्रु धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘heard’

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (common), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘by me’

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), reporting traditional teaching to Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Manifest ‘form’ associated with Brahman is described as guṇa-vaiṣamya (uneven differentiation of guṇas); Mahat is fourfold—received as authoritative teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Nirguṇa Brahman vs. saguṇa manifestation through māyā/prakṛti; ‘form’ language points to upādhi-conditioned appearance, not ultimate essence.

Application: Discriminate the unchanging Self from guṇa-conditioned intellect; treat guṇa-perturbations as objects of knowledge, not identity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.56 (fourfold Mahat); Garuda Purana 3.4.58-60 (doubt and reconciliation)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Guṇas
• Mahat-tattva

FAQs

What is the importance of guṇa-vaiṣamya in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames creation as beginning with guṇa-vaiṣamya—an imbalance or differentiation of sattva, rajas, and tamas—through which the unmanifest is spoken of as appearing in a knowable ‘form’.

How does this verse explain the origin of Mahat-tattva?

It presents Mahat-tattva (cosmic intellect) as a primary principle associated with the first differentiation of the guṇas, and notes a traditional teaching that it is described as fourfold.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seeing experience as shaped by shifting guṇas supports self-discipline: cultivate sattva (clarity) through ethical conduct, moderation, and study to steady the mind and reduce rajas/tamas-driven impulses.