Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

अन्यथा ये विजानन्ति ते यान्ति ह्यधरं तमः / गरुड उवाच / राशीकृतगुणानां च त्रयाणां परमेश्वर

Transliteration

anyathā ye vijānanti te yānti hyadharaṃ tamaḥ / garuḍa uvāca / rāśīkṛtaguṇānāṃ ca trayāṇāṃ parameśvara

Translation

जो इसे अन्यथा समझते हैं, वे निश्चय ही अधो-अन्धकार (अज्ञान) में जाते हैं। गरुड़ बोले—हे परमेश्वर, संचित तीनों गुणों के विषय में बताइए।

Word by Word

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (otherwise)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• विजानन्ति: understand/know
• विजानन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु) with vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; correlative pronoun

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (indeed/for)

• अधरम्: lower
• अधरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; used as adjective to तमः

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; object of यान्ति (destination)

• गरुडः: Garuda
• गरुडः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्ष/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; perfect ‘said’

• राशी-कृत-गुणानाम्: of the qualities made into a heap (aggregated)
• राशी-कृत-गुणानाम्: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāśi (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ धातु, क्त) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: ‘राशी-कृत’ (कर्मधारय/उपपद: राशीभूत/समूहित) + ‘गुण’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राशीकृताः गुणाः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• त्रयाणाम्: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन

• परमेश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन

Speaker

Garuḍa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mithyā-jñāna (wrong understanding) leads to adharatamaḥ; correct discernment of the three guṇas is prerequisite for right knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as darkness; necessity of tattva-viveka regarding prakṛti/guṇa-traya for liberation-oriented understanding.

Application: Cultivate right view through śāstra-study and guidance; avoid distorted interpretations that reinforce tamas and confusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (dialogue sections on guṇa-traya and pralaya/sṛṣṭi sequence in the same adhyāya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Parameśvara (Lord Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding the three guṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that misconstruing core principles leads to 'lower darkness' (tamas/avidyā), implying that correct discernment of the three guṇas is essential for right spiritual direction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By linking wrong understanding with descent into darkness, it frames inner knowledge as a determinant of one’s post-death trajectory—ignorance binds, while correct insight supports liberation-oriented progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate accurate scriptural understanding and self-observation of sattva–rajas–tamas; reduce tamasic habits (confusion, negligence) to avoid ethical and spiritual decline.