Shloka 16
An Exposition of the Distinctions of Creation, Inert Matter, and the Lord
अपिक्षितं च तत्रादौ गुणसाम्यं न संशयः / सम्यग्ज्ञापयितुं तत्र खादौ तावत्स्वगेश्वर
apikṣitaṃ ca tatrādau guṇasāmyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ / samyagjñāpayituṃ tatra khādau tāvatsvageśvara
ณที่นั้น ตั้งแต่เริ่มแรก ความสมดุลแห่งคุณทั้งสามย่อมจำเป็นแน่นอน—ปราศจากข้อสงสัย ดังนั้นเพื่ออธิบายให้ถูกต้อง โอ้เจ้าแห่งหมู่บริวารของตน พึงเริ่มจากข้อปฏิบัติเบื้องต้น เช่น อาหารที่กำหนดไว้เป็นต้น
Lord Vishnu
Concept: Guṇa-sāmya (equilibrium of the guṇas) as the necessary starting condition; exposition should begin with preliminaries (āhāra-ādi) to make the doctrine intelligible.
Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti/guṇa framework as a propaedeutic to metaphysical analysis; disciplined inquiry begins with right ordering of causes and conditions.
Application: Cultivate balance (sattva-supporting habits) and begin any study/practice with foundational disciplines—diet, conduct, and preparatory definitions—before subtle metaphysics.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.17-20 (guṇa aggregation and prakṛti derivation)
FAQs
This verse stresses that rites should begin from a state of proper balance and suitability—so the procedure is effective and correctly aligned with dharma, without confusion.
It indicates that one should start by clarifying preliminaries (like appropriate food and related preparations) before detailing the rest of the ritual steps.
Begin any sacred duty—especially ancestral or funeral observances—with orderly preparation, purity, and disciplined basics (diet, conduct, and sequence), rather than rushing to advanced steps.