Shloka 5

Sup–Tiṅ Foundations: Prātipadika, Vibhaktis/Kārakas, and Lakāras

Tense–Mood System

Devanagari script

टाभ्यांभिसस्तृतीया स्यात्करणे कर्तरीरिता / येन क्रियते करणं तत्कर्ता यः करोति सः

Transliteration

ṭābhyāṃbhisastṛtīyā syātkaraṇe kartarīritā / yena kriyate karaṇaṃ tatkartā yaḥ karoti saḥ

Translation

Le troisième cas (tṛtīyā, instrumental) est enseigné avec les affixes ṭā, bhyām et bhis ; il est prescrit pour exprimer l’instrument (karaṇa) et—comme il est dit—l’agent (kartṛ). Ce par quoi l’action est accomplie est l’instrument ; celui qui l’accomplit est l’auteur, l’agent.

Word by Word

• टाभ्याम्: (ending) -bhyām (instrumental dual)
• टाभ्याम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: टा + भ्याम् (प्रातिपदिक/संज्ञा)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रत्यय-संज्ञा; तृतीया-द्विवचन-प्रत्ययः ‘भ्याम्’ (instrumental dual ending)

• भिस्: (ending) -bhis (instrumental plural)
• भिस्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिस् (प्रातिपदिक/संज्ञा)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रत्यय-संज्ञा; तृतीया-बहुवचन-प्रत्ययः (instrumental plural ending)

• तृतीया: the third case (instrumental)
• तृतीया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्यात्: should be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• करणे: in the instrument-function (karaṇa)
• करणे: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तरि: in the agent-function (kartṛ)
• कर्तरि: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईरिता: is stated/declared
• ईरिता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईर्/ईर (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘ईरिता’ = उक्ता/कथिता

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• क्रियते: is done
• क्रियते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• करणम्: instrument/means
• करणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कर्ता’ इति विशेष्ये

• कर्ता: agent/doer
• कर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करोति: does
• करोति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, as part of an explanatory discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Instrumental (tṛtīyā) with ṭā-bhyām-bhis expresses karaṇa (instrument) and sometimes kartṛ (agent); defines instrument vs doer.

Vedantic Theme: Discriminating kartṛ (doer) from karaṇa (means) supports deeper inquiry into agency—useful for later karma/mokṣa reflection though here purely grammatical.

Application: In sentences, identify whether tṛtīyā marks the tool/means (‘by X’) or the agent in passive constructions; avoid misreading who acts vs what is used.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.205.5 (tṛtīyā—karaṇa/kartṛ; ṭā-bhyām-bhis)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of defining kartā (agent) and karaṇa (instrument) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse clarifies how actions are linguistically and philosophically framed—who performs (kartā) and by what means (karaṇa)—which supports accurate understanding of karma and ritual statements in the text.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife teachings?

Indirectly: by defining agency and instrumentality, it helps interpret karmic responsibility—an essential foundation for later discussions on consequences of deeds, merit, and sin described in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it to reflect clearly on responsibility: identify the doer (you) and the means (tools, speech, resources) behind actions, encouraging mindful, ethical conduct.