Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

एवं त्रिभागो रजसः एकांशस्तमसः स्मृतः / तदाहुर्ब्रह्मणो देहं गुणवैषम्यनामकम्

Transliteration

evaṃ tribhāgo rajasaḥ ekāṃśastamasaḥ smṛtaḥ / tadāhurbrahmaṇo dehaṃ guṇavaiṣamyanāmakam

Translation

Demikianlah, tiga bahagian dikatakan milik rajas dan satu bahagian diingati sebagai tamas; maka mereka menyebut tubuh Brahmā sebagai “ketidakseimbangan guṇa-guṇa”.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• त्रि-भागः: three parts (a threefold portion)
• त्रि-भागः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (त्रयः भागाः)

• रजसः: of rajas
• रजसः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• एक-अंशः: one part
• एक-अंशः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एकः अंशः)

• तमसः: of tamas
• तमसः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is said/considered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• देहम्: body
• देहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• गुण-वैषम्य-नामकम्: called ‘inequality of the guṇas’
• गुण-वैषम्य-नामकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + वैषम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (गुणानां वैषम्यं यस्य नाम)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmā’s embodiment is characterized by guṇa-vaiṣamya: rajas predominates (three parts) with tamas as a lesser share (one part), explaining creative dynamism with residual obscuration.

Vedantic Theme: Functional deities (Brahmā etc.) operate within guṇas; ultimate reality transcends guṇas, while cosmic roles reflect guṇa-mixture (saguṇa framework).

Application: Understand that activity/creation (rajas) often carries some inertia/ignorance (tamas); refine action with clarity and ethical restraint to reduce tamasic residue.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.64; Garuda Purana 3.4.65

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Rajas
• Tamas
• Gunas

FAQs

What is the importance of guṇavaiṣamya (imbalance of guṇas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the term guṇavaiṣamya to explain a cosmological principle: Brahmā’s manifested form is characterized by a specific predominance of rajas and a share of tamas, indicating creation proceeds through an unequal mixture of guṇas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames how embodied existence operates: guṇa-mixture conditions perception, action, and rebirth; understanding rajas–tamas dominance helps explain why souls remain bound to activity and ignorance until sattva and knowledge rise.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe which guṇas dominate your mind—reduce tamas (laziness, confusion) and moderate rajas (restlessness) through disciplined routine, ethical conduct, and study, aiming to cultivate sattva for clarity and spiritual progress.