Shloka 51

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

तथैव वै वायुपुराणमाहुस्त्रीण्येव चाहुः सात्त्विकानीति लोके / तत्रापि किञ्चिद्वेदितव्यं भवेच्च पुराणषट्के सत्त्वरूपे मुनीन्द्राः

tathaiva vai vāyupurāṇamāhustrīṇyeva cāhuḥ sāttvikānīti loke / tatrāpi kiñcidveditavyaṃ bhavecca purāṇaṣaṭke sattvarūpe munīndrāḥ

De même, ils proclament aussi le Vāyu Purāṇa; et dans le monde on dit qu’il n’existe précisément que trois Purāṇa sāttvika. Pourtant, même parmi eux, ô meilleur des sages, il reste quelque chose à connaître au sujet de l’ensemble des six Purāṇa de nature sattva.

तथाthus; likewise
तथा:
Manner (प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)
एवindeed
एव:
Emphasis (अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण (emphasis)
वैindeed
वै:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle)
वायु-पुराणम्the Vāyu Purāṇa
वायु-पुराणम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवायु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘Vāyu Purāṇa’
आहुःthey say
आहुः:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअह्/आह् (धातु)
Formलिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
त्रीणिthree
त्रीणि:
Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootत्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; cardinal numeral ‘three’
एवonly; indeed
एव:
Emphasis (अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण (emphasis)
and
:
Connector (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)
आहुःthey say
आहुः:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअह्/आह् (धातु)
Formलिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
सात्त्विकानिsāttvika
सात्त्विकानि:
Predicate adjective (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘sāttvika (pure)’
इतिthus
इति:
Quotation marker (इति)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)
लोकेin the world; in common usage
लोके:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
तत्रthere; in that context
तत्र:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)
अपिalso
अपि:
Emphasis/Addition (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअपि-कार (particle ‘also/even’)
किञ्चित्something; a little
किञ्चित्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकिञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितप्रमाण (indefinite pronoun)
वेदितव्यम्to be known
वेदितव्यम्:
Predicate (विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootविद् (धातु) → वेदितव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known’
भवेत्should be; would be
भवेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
and
:
Connector (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)
पुराण-षट्केin the group of six Purāṇas
पुराण-षट्के:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + षट्क (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘in the set of six Purāṇas’
सत्त्व-रूपेof sāttvika form
सत्त्व-रूपे:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘of sāttvika nature/form’
मुनीन्द्राःO best of sages
मुनीन्द्राः:
Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootमुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘lords among sages’

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Concept: Guṇa-based categorization is not merely numerical; one must understand the deeper structure (ṣaṭka) of sāttvika Purāṇas and their intent.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) as a purifier; sattva supports knowledge and devotion by reducing rajas/tamas obscuration.

Application: Do not rely on popular labels alone; study the internal orientation (sattva/rajas/tamas) and intended sādhana of a text before adopting it as primary guidance.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.52 (gradation within sattva); Garuda Purana 3.1.54 (mumuṣu guidance about rājasa listening)

V
Vāyu Purāṇa
S
Sāttvika Purāṇas
M
Munis (sages)

FAQs

This verse frames Purāṇas as having dominant guṇas, implying that Sāttvika texts are especially suited for clarity of dharma and devotion, and that their internal grouping deserves careful understanding.

Indirectly: by emphasizing sattva-oriented scripture, it points to knowledge and purity as supports for right conduct (dharma), which in Garuda Purana is repeatedly linked to favorable post-death outcomes.

Prioritize study and practice guided by sattva-increasing teachings—ethical living, devotion, and discernment in scripture selection—rather than confusing or agitating influences.