Shloka 54

An Exposition of the Distinctions of Creation, Inert Matter, and the Lord

Devanagari script

एकांशस्तामसो ज्ञेयो महत्तत्त्वे न संशयः / एवं त्रयोदशैर्भागैर्मिश्रितं तच्च सत्तम

Transliteration

ekāṃśastāmaso jñeyo mahattattve na saṃśayaḥ / evaṃ trayodaśairbhāgairmiśritaṃ tacca sattama

Translation

Dans le principe du Mahat, une part doit être reconnue comme tāmasa — il n’y a là aucun doute. Ainsi, ô le meilleur des êtres, ce Mahat est un composé, mêlé selon treize parts.

Word by Word

• eka-aṃśaḥ: one portion
• eka-aṃśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘one’ + ‘portion’)

• tāmasaḥ: tamasic
• tāmasaḥ: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (‘tamasic’)

• jñeyaḥ: is to be known
• jñeyaḥ: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñeya (कृदन्त; √jñā ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक भावे—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive) ‘to be known’

• mahat-tattve: in the Mahat principle
• mahat-tattve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (‘in the Mahat principle’)

• na: no/not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• trayodaśaiḥ: by thirteen
• trayodaśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayodaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (three+ten=thirteen)

• bhāgaiḥ: parts/portions
• bhāgaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• miśritam: mixed
• miśritam: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: miśrita (कृदन्त; √miśr मिश्र् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• sattama: O best one
• sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat + tama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; उत्तम-प्रत्ययान्त (superlative) ‘best of the good’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Within Mahat-tattva, a tāmasa portion is present; Mahat is a thirteen-part composite (as per this text’s enumeration).

Vedantic Theme: Even cosmic intellect is within prakṛti and thus guṇa-bound; liberation requires disidentification from buddhi as well.

Application: Do not absolutize intellect; recognize dullness (tamas) can hide within 'smartness'; cultivate clarity and humility in reasoning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.53 (Mahat as mixed); Garuda Purana 3.4.51-52 (guṇa proportions)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Mahat-tattva
• Tamas

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahat-tattva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Mahat-tattva as a foundational cosmic principle with a specific guna-component (tāmasa) and a structured composition, framing later discussions of mind, subtle constitution, and creation.

How does this verse relate to the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas)?

It explicitly states that within Mahat there is a tāmasa portion, indicating that even the cosmic intellect is not purely sattvic but a mixed principle influenced by the gunas.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognizing that cognition and decision-making can be influenced by tamas encourages practices that reduce inertia and confusion—such as disciplined routine, clarity-seeking study, and ethically grounded action.