Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

स्कान्दं पाद्मं वामनं वै वराहं तथाग्रेयं भविष्यं पर्वसृष्टौ / एतान्याहू राजसानीति विप्रास्तत्रैकदेशः सात्त्विकस्तामसश्च

Transliteration

skāndaṃ pādmaṃ vāmanaṃ vai varāhaṃ tathāgreyaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ parvasṛṣṭau / etānyāhū rājasānīti viprāstatraikadeśaḥ sāttvikastāmasaśca

Translation

Le Skanda, le Padma, le Vāmana et le Varāha, ainsi que l’Agni, le Bhaviṣya et le Parva-sṛṣṭi : les brahmanes déclarent que ceux-ci sont principalement rājasa. Pourtant, en leur sein, certaines parties sont aussi sāttvika et tāmasa.

Word by Word

• skāndam: Skānda (Purāṇa)
• skāndam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skānda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa

• pād्मam: Pādma (Purāṇa)
• pād्मam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa

• vāmanam: Vāmana (Purāṇa)
• vāmanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa

• vai: indeed
• vai: Prayojaka/Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात), emphasis

• varāham: Varāha (Purāṇa)
• varāham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa

• tathā: also
• tathā: Samuccaya/Prakāra (समुच्चय/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• agreyam: Āgneya/Agni (Purāṇa)
• agreyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa (Agni/Āgneya)

• bhaviṣyam: Bhaviṣya (Purāṇa)
• bhaviṣyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaviṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa

• parva-sṛṣṭau: in Parva-sṛṣṭi (Purāṇa)
• parva-sṛṣṭau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parva (प्रातिपदिक) + sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'in the Parva-sṛṣṭi (Purāṇa)'

• etāni: these
• etāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rājasāni: rājasa (passionate)
• rājasāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; predicative adjective qualifying 'etāni'

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• viprāḥ: the brāhmaṇas; sages
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tatra: there; among them
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of place (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• eka-deśaḥ: a portion
• eka-deśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'a certain part/portion'

• sāttvikaḥ: sāttvika
• sāttvikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāttvika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate of eka-deśaḥ

• tāmasaḥ: tāmasa
• tāmasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; coordinated predicate

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Texts may be predominantly rājasa yet contain sāttvika/tāmasa sections; discernment must be granular (aikadeśa).

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-miśratā of prakṛti; the need for viveka to extract what purifies and avoid what agitates or deludes.

Application: Read with guidance and context; identify sections aligned with one’s aim (mokṣa/bhakti/dharma) and avoid portions that inflame rajas or deepen tamas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.54 (why rājasa should be avoided by mumuṣus; yet sattvika portions exist)

Characters & Entities

• Skanda Purana
• Padma Purana
• Vamana Purana
• Varaha Purana
• Agni Purana
• Bhavishya Purana

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying Puranas as sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic in the Garuda Purana?

This verse explains that Purāṇas are grouped by dominant guṇa (sattva/rajas/tamas), helping a seeker choose texts aligned with their spiritual goal and temperament.

Does this verse say a rajasic Purana contains only rajas?

No. It explicitly notes that even in those declared rājasa, some sections are sāttvika and some are tāmasa, indicating mixed content within a dominant orientation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Select readings and practices that increase sattva (clarity, steadiness) while recognizing that scriptures can contain diverse material—so focus on the portions that support ethical living, devotion, and self-discipline.