Shloka 58

Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude

Devanagari script

पुरुषाख्यो हरिस्तस्मात्त्रिगुणानसृजत्प्रभुः

Transliteration

puruṣākhyo haristasmāttriguṇānasṛjatprabhuḥ

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ‘പുരുഷൻ’ എന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്ന പ്രഭു ഹരി സത്ത്വം, രജസ്, തമസ് എന്ന ത്രിഗുണങ്ങളെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• puruṣa-ākhyaḥ: called ‘Puruṣa’
• puruṣa-ākhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; उपपद/तत्पुरुषः ‘named as puruṣa’

• hariḥ: Hari (Vishnu)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tasmāt: therefore, from that
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान-causal source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (तस्मात्), ‘therefore/from that’

• tri-guṇān: the three qualities (guṇas)
• tri-guṇān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; द्विगु-समासः ‘three guṇas’

• asṛjat: created, produced
• asṛjat: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ/लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to hariḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari as Puruṣa is the sovereign source who brings forth the three guṇas—sattva, rajas, tamas—foundational to manifested nature.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-theory under divine causality: prakṛti’s modalities arise under/through the Lord’s will; supports theism integrated with Sāṅkhya categories.

Application: Observe guṇas in mind and conduct; cultivate sattva through diet, habits, and devotion; reduce rajas/tamas by disciplined living and remembrance of Hari as the inner ruler.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.54 (Nārāyaṇa as all-pervading); Garuda Purana 3.3.57 (māyā and divine potency)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Puruṣa
• Triguṇas

FAQs

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

This verse states that Hari, as Puruṣa, brings forth the three guṇas, implying that all mental states, actions, and karmic tendencies in the world operate through these qualities.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By grounding creation in the trigunas, the verse indicates that the jīva’s bondage and liberation are shaped by guṇa-driven karma—tamas and rajas bind through ignorance and desire, while sattva supports clarity and spiritual ascent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattva (truthfulness, restraint, purity, study, devotion) and reduce rajas/tamas (restlessness, indulgence, negligence) to improve conduct and lessen karmic entanglement.