Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

साम्यावस्थां गुणानां च शृण्विदानीं खगेश्वर / राशीकृताच्च रजसः जन्यं यच्च कगेश्वर

Transliteration

sāmyāvasthāṃ guṇānāṃ ca śṛṇvidānīṃ khageśvara / rāśīkṛtācca rajasaḥ janyaṃ yacca kageśvara

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ ഹേ ഖഗേശ്വരാ! ഗുണങ്ങളുടെ സാമ്യാവസ്ഥ കേൾക്കുക; കൂടാതെ ഹേ പക്ഷിരാജാ! രജസ് കൂട്ടിച്ചേർന്നു ഘനമായാൽ എന്ത് ജനിക്കുന്നു അതും കേൾക്കുക।

Word by Word

• साम्य-अवस्थाम्: the state of equilibrium
• साम्य-अवस्थाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmya (प्रातिपदिक) + avasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘साम्यस्य अवस्था’); accusative singular

• गुणानाम्: of the qualities (guṇas)
• गुणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; imperative ‘hear’

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: Desha-Kala (देश-काल अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय; adverb ‘now’

• खग-ईश्वर: O lord of birds
• खग-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘खगानाम् ईश्वरः’); vocative singular

• राशी-कृतात्: from the aggregated (mass)
• राशी-कृतात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāśi (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (धातु) + kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) ‘कृत’; पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य (contextually ablative singular) ‘from what has been heaped/aggregated’; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘राशिं कृत’); ablative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and/from ... also’

• रजसः: of rajas
• रजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular

• जन्यम्: produced/that which is produced
• जन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु) + janya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/derivative) ‘जन्य’ = ‘to be produced/produced’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular neuter

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; relative pronoun ‘which/that’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• खग-ईश्वर: O lord of birds
• खग-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; vocative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇas have an equilibrium state (sāmya-avasthā); when rajas accumulates/condenses, specific evolutes arise (cosmic production sequence).

Vedantic Theme: Sāṅkhya cosmology as explanatory framework: disturbance of guṇa-equilibrium initiates manifestation; supports understanding of māyā/prakṛti dynamics.

Application: Notice inner equilibrium vs. rājasic surge; when agitation accumulates, it ‘produces’ further mental constructs—restore balance via breath, routine, and sattva.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: subsequent verses likely detailing evolutes from rajas/mahat/ahaṅkāra (prakṛti-vikāra-krama)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Guṇas
• Rajas

FAQs

What is the importance of sāmyāvasthā (equilibrium of guṇas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse points to the pre-manifest condition of prakṛti where sattva, rajas, and tamas remain balanced; creation is explained as beginning when this balance is disturbed and rajas becomes prominent.

How does this verse explain the beginning of creation?

It frames manifestation as arising from the guṇas: first an equilibrium state is taught, then the text highlights that when rajas is accumulated/condensed, specific products (effects) arise—marking the transition from unmanifest to manifest.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize how increased rajas (restlessness, agitation, overactivity) drives outward compulsions; cultivating balance among the guṇas through disciplined living supports clarity and steadiness.