Shloka 36

Devanagari script

एते पञ्च गुणाः प्रोक्ता मया भूमेः खगेश्वर / यथा पञ्च गुणाश्चापस्तथा तच्छृणु काश्यप

Transliteration

ete pañca guṇāḥ proktā mayā bhūmeḥ khageśvara / yathā pañca guṇāścāpastathā tacchṛṇu kāśyapa

Translation

O lord of birds, I have explained to you the five qualities of earth. Now, in the same way, listen—O Kāśyapa—to the five qualities of water.

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (qualifying guṇāḥ)

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: have been stated
• प्रोक्ताः: Karma (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (भूतकर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• भूमेः: of earth
• भूमेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/how)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप्/आपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चय (so/likewise)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• काश्यप: O Kāśyapa
• काश्यप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrator/teacher) addressing Garuda (Khageshvara)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic knowledge of elemental qualities (guṇas) as a framework for understanding body and world.

Vedantic Theme: Ordered inquiry (vicara) into prakriti’s constituents as preparatory knowledge supporting discrimination.

Application: Adopt structured learning: compare categories, observe qualities in experience (earth/water) to refine discernment and reduce confusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (teacher addressing Garuḍa/Kāśyapa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32 (earth qualities preceding; water qualities following)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Kashyapa
• Apah (water element)
• Bhumi (earth element)

FAQs

What is the importance of the five qualities (guṇas) of elements in the Garuda Purana?

This verse signals a structured teaching: understanding elemental qualities (earth, then water) is foundational for explaining how embodied existence and the subtle body are analyzed in Purāṇic thought.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda, descriptions of post-death experience often rely on how the body and subtle constitution are understood; this verse transitions from earth’s qualities to water’s, continuing that doctrinal framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to study the body and mind as composed of changing elements—supporting detachment, ethical living, and clarity in ritual intent rather than mere outward performance.