Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

सत्त्वस्तैर्दशभागैश्च तथैकेन रजोंशिना / एवमेकादशैर्भागैस्तमस्थांशेन वै व्दिज

Transliteration

sattvastairdaśabhāgaiśca tathaikena rajoṃśinā / evamekādaśairbhāgaistamasthāṃśena vai vdija

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജാ! (ജീവി) പത്ത് അംശം സത്ത്വവും ഒരു അംശം രജസ്സും ചേർന്നതാണ്; ഇങ്ങനെ ആകെ പതിനൊന്ന് അംശങ്ങൾ, ശേഷിക്കുന്ന അംശം തമസെന്ന് പറയപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सत्त्वम्: sattva
• सत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; भागैः इति विशेषणम्

• दशभागैः: with ten parts
• दशभागैः: Karana (करण/Instrument-measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—दश + भाग (द्विगु)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; रजोंशिना इति विशेषणम्

• रजः-अंशिना: with a rajas-part
• रजः-अंशिना: Karana (करण/Instrument-measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस् + अंशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—रजः + अंशिन् (तत्पुरुष: ‘having a part of rajas’)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• एकादशैः: with eleven
• एकादशैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—एक + दश (द्विगु)

• भागैः: parts
• भागैः: Karana (करण/Instrument-measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तमस्-अंशेन: with a tamas-part
• तमस्-अंशेन: Karana (करण/Instrument-measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तमस् + अंश (तत्पुरुष)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• द्विज: O twice-born
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra; addressing 'dvija' as a conventional vocative in the text)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa-proportion in embodied beings: predominance of sattva with admixture of rajas and remainder tamas; constitution explains behavior and cognition.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-traya as upādhi of jīva; discernment of prakṛti’s modes to loosen identification.

Application: Self-assess guṇa-balance; increase sattva via sāttvika āhāra, sat-saṅga, study; reduce rajas/tamas via moderation and discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.51 (rajas pervasion); Garuda Purana 3.4.53-54 (Mahat-tattva mixture)

Characters & Entities

• Sattva
• Rajas
• Tamas

FAQs

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

This verse frames behavior and destiny through the triguṇa makeup—sattva, rajas, and tamas—showing how inner qualities condition conduct and thus karmic outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in practical terms?

By linking one’s constitution to guṇas, it implies that increasing sattva supports discernment and dharmic action, while tamas and rajas can bind one to confusion and restless karma, shaping future states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattva through truthful living, restraint, study, and wholesome food; reduce tamas (laziness, intoxication) and regulate rajas (excess craving) to make choices that lessen karmic entanglement.