Shloka 7

Gopāla-pūjāvidhi: Maṇḍala, Dik-devatā, Mantra-aṅga, and Āyudha Installation

Devanagari script

सत्त्वाय प्रकृतात्मने रजसे मोहरूपिणे / तमसे कन्द पद्माय यजेत्कं काकतत्त्वकम्

Transliteration

sattvāya prakṛtātmane rajase moharūpiṇe / tamase kanda padmāya yajetkaṃ kākatattvakam

Translation

Qu’on adore la syllabe « kaṃ »—le principe symbolisé par le corbeau—comme Sattva, dont le soi même est Prakṛti ; comme Rajas, dont la forme est moha (l’illusion) ; et comme Tamas, comme « kanda et padma », la racine et le lotus épanoui de la manifestation.

Word by Word

• सत्त्वाय: to/for Sattva
• सत्त्वाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• प्रकृतात्मने: to Prakṛtātmā (one whose self is Prakṛti)
• प्रकृतात्मने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रकृतेः आत्मा/प्रकृति-आत्मा)

• रजसे: to/for Rajas
• रजसे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• मोहरूपिणे: to the delusion-formed one
• मोहरूपिणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (having the form of delusion)

• तमसे: to/for Tamas
• तमसे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• कन्द: Kanda (name)
• कन्द: Unclear/Other
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (पाठे असमाप्त/सम्बोधन-प्रायः; सम्भाव्यं ‘कन्दाय’ इति अपेक्षितम्)

• पद्माय: to/for Padma
• पद्माय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कम्: whom/which (one)
• कम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; प्रश्न/अनिर्दिष्टवाचक सर्वनाम

• काकतत्त्वकम्: the crow-principle (kāka-tattvaka)
• काकतत्त्वकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (काकस्य तत्त्वकम् = ‘crow-principle/essence’)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇas (sattva/rajas/tamas) structure manifestation; bīja-mantra contemplation integrates prakṛti and its modalities, revealing how delusion and emergence arise.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti as guṇa-mayī; bondage through rajas/tamas (moha) and clarity through sattva; mantra as upāya for inner discernment.

Application: In meditation, observe mental states as guṇa-play: cultivate sattva (clarity), recognize rajas as agitation/moha, and transform tamas (inertia) through disciplined practice; use bīja-japa as a focusing tool.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mantric-symbolic (not a physical place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.28 (bīja/tattva worship sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa
• Guṇas (Sattva-Rajas-Tamas)
• Prakṛti

FAQs

What is the importance of the syllable ‘kaṃ’ in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse treats ‘kaṃ’ as a worship-worthy seed-sound representing a principle that can be contemplated through the three guṇas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—linking mantra to metaphysical analysis.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames experience through the guṇas (clarity, agitation, inertia). In Garuḍa Purāṇa’s broader teaching, understanding and transcending guṇa-driven delusion supports right conduct and liberation-oriented practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a contemplative map: observe which guṇa dominates your mind (clarity, restlessness, dullness) and cultivate sattvic discipline—ethical living, steadiness, and devotional focus—to reduce moha (confusion).