Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

तमोभागास्तु विज्ञेयास्तद्दशांशाधिकः स्मृतः / सत्त्वभाग इति ज्ञेयो महत्तत्त्वे खगेश्वर

Transliteration

tamobhāgāstu vijñeyāstaddaśāṃśādhikaḥ smṛtaḥ / sattvabhāga iti jñeyo mahattattve khageśvara

Translation

Ketahuilah bahawa bahagian-bahagian yang tergolong dalam tamas ada di sana; dan ia dinyatakan lebih besar daripada itu dengan tambahan satu persepuluh. Dan bahagian yang dinamakan sattva hendaklah difahami berada dalam prinsip Mahat, wahai tuan segala burung (Garuda).

Word by Word

• tamaḥ-bhāgāḥ: parts of tamas
• tamaḥ-bhāgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (parts of tamas)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (but/indeed)

• vijñeyāḥ: are to be known
• vijñeyāḥ: Vidheyabhāva (विधेय/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be ascertained)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• daśa-aṃśa-adhikaḥ: exceeding by ten parts
• daśa-aṃśa-adhikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa + aṃśa + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (exceeding by ten parts)

• smṛtaḥ: is stated
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकृत्/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is said/remembered’

• sattva-bhāgaḥ: the sattva-part
• sattva-bhāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (part of sattva)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• jñeyaḥ: is to be known
• jñeyaḥ: Vidheyabhāva (विधेय/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahat-tattve: in the Mahat-tattva
• mahat-tattve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahat tattvam = the great principle)

• khaga-īśvara: O lord of birds
• khaga-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (lord of birds)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa portions (tamas and sattva) are to be understood as present within Mahat-tattva; comparative increase indicated, reinforcing guṇa-mixture in the first evolute.

Vedantic Theme: Mahat as buddhi-principle in sāṅkhya mapping; discerning guṇa-mixture in buddhi supports inner purification and eventual transcendence of guṇas.

Application: Cultivate sāttvika buddhi (clear discernment) through reflection and devotion; recognize tamasic overlays as correctable conditions, not the Self.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.71–75 (Mahat and guṇa portions)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahat-tattva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse points to Mahat-tattva as a key cosmic principle where the gunas are discussed and proportioned, grounding later teachings about creation and the psyche in a structured metaphysics.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by describing the dominance and distribution of gunas (especially tamas and sattva), it frames how consciousness can be clouded or clarified—an underlying cause of bondage and liberation discussed elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattva (clarity) through ethical conduct, disciplined living, and reflective study, while reducing tamas (inertia) that leads to confusion and spiritual stagnation.