Shloka 50
An Exposition of the Distinctions of Creation, Inert Matter, and the Lord
दशभागैश्च सत्त्वे तु मिश्रितं यद्र जस्तथा / तमस्यप्येकभागेन प्रविष्टं यत्तु तद्रजः
daśabhāgaiśca sattve tu miśritaṃ yadra jastathā / tamasyapyekabhāgena praviṣṭaṃ yattu tadrajaḥ
சத்த்வத்தில் கலந்த ரஜஸ் பத்து பாகங்களின் கலவையெனச் சொல்லப்படுகிறது; மேலும் தமஸின் ஒரு பாகம்கூட புகுந்த ரஜஸ், தமஸால் ஆட்கொள்ளப்பட்ட ரஜஸாக அறியப்படுகிறது।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)
Concept: Guṇas interpenetrate in specific proportions; rajas mixed into sattva differs from rajas tainted by tamas—indicating qualitative shifts due to admixture.
Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-viveka: subtle causality of mental/behavioral qualities; how tamas contaminates activity (rajas) and alters outcomes.
Application: Audit one’s ‘rajas’: distinguish energetic clarity (rajas under sattva) from agitated/dull activity (rajas under tamas); adjust lifestyle to increase sattva (sleep hygiene, diet, truthful speech, mindful action).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: 3.4.49 (vaiṣamya introduction); Adjacent guṇa-analysis passages in the same discourse (mixture and effects)
FAQs
This verse highlights how the guṇas mix and condition behavior: sattva-refined rajas differs from tamas-tainted rajas, shaping one’s tendencies and therefore karma.
By indicating that even a small tamasic influence can darken rajas, it implies that inner quality (guṇa-miśraṇa) affects actions and their fruits, which in turn influence post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Purana.
Strengthen sattva (clarity, restraint, truthfulness) so that activity (rajas) becomes constructive, and reduce tamas (heedlessness, intoxication, laziness) to prevent ethical decline.