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Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

केवलं सत्त्वमित्युक्तं न तु श्रेष्ठत्वतः प्रभो / सृष्टिकाले केवलं स्यात्प्रलये मिश्रितं भवेत्

Transliteration

kevalaṃ sattvamityuktaṃ na tu śreṣṭhatvataḥ prabho / sṛṣṭikāle kevalaṃ syātpralaye miśritaṃ bhavet

Translation

ഹേ പ്രഭോ! ഇതിനെ ‘കേവല സത്ത്വം’ എന്നു പറയുന്നത് സ്വഭാവതഃ ശ്രേഷ്ഠമെന്നതിനാൽ അല്ല. സൃഷ്ടികാലത്ത് അത് ശുദ്ധസത്ത്വമായി ഇരിക്കാം; പ്രളയത്തിൽ അത് മിശ്രിതമാകും।

Word by Word
केवलम्only, pure
केवलम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootकेवल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg, adjective)
सत्त्वम्sattva (purity/essence)
सत्त्वम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formउद्धरणसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)
उक्तम्said, declared
उक्तम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said/declared’
नnot
न:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation)
तुbut
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)
श्रेष्ठत्वतःfrom/owing to superiority
श्रेष्ठत्वतः:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootश्रेष्ठत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तसिल्-अर्थे ‘-तः’ (ablative: from/owing to superiority)
प्रभोO Lord
प्रभो:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8 विभक्ति), एकवचन (vocative sg)
सृष्टिकालेat the time of creation
सृष्टिकाले:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसृष्टि + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa): सृष्टेः कालः; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन (locative sg)
केवलम्pure/only
केवलम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootकेवल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom sg)
स्यात्would be
स्यात्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg optative)
प्रलयेin dissolution
प्रलये:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन (locative sg)
मिश्रितम्mixed
मिश्रितम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमिश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom sg: mixed)
भवेत्would become
भवेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg optative)
Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: ‘Kevala sattva’ is contextual: it can appear pure at creation but becomes mixed at dissolution; purity is not asserted as intrinsic superiority.

Vedantic Theme: Relativity of guṇa-states within prakṛti; impermanence of conditioned purity; need to seek what is beyond guṇas.

Application: Do not cling to ‘purity’ as egoic superiority; use sattva as a means for insight, remembering that all guṇic states are mutable in time.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.22 (kevala sattva claim); Garuda Purana 3.4.24 (always unmixed vs always mixed categories)

Characters & Entities
L
Lord Vishnu

FAQs

This verse clarifies that ‘pure sattva’ is a contextual designation tied to cosmic phases (creation vs. dissolution), not an absolute claim of inherent superiority.

It states that what appears as exclusively sattvic at the start of creation can become intermingled with other guṇas at pralaya, showing guṇas are dynamic across cosmic cycles.

Cultivate sattva (clarity, restraint, truthfulness), while remembering that mental states fluctuate; steady practice is needed rather than pride in being ‘pure’ or ‘superior’.

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