Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

सत्त्वं च मिश्रितं ज्ञेयं नान्यथा पक्षिसत्तम / रजसः शतभागानां मध्ये तु विनतासुत

Transliteration

sattvaṃ ca miśritaṃ jñeyaṃ nānyathā pakṣisattama / rajasaḥ śatabhāgānāṃ madhye tu vinatāsuta

Translation

โอ้ยอดแห่งปักษา! พึงรู้ว่าสัตตวะย่อมมีได้ในสภาพคละเคล้าเท่านั้น มิใช่อย่างอื่น โอ้บุตรแห่งวินตา! มันดำรงอยู่ท่ามกลางส่วนทั้งร้อยของรชัส

Word by Word

• सत्त्वम्: sattva
• सत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मिश्रितम्: mixed
• मिश्रितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg: mixed)

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्य-अर्थक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञातव्यम्’ (to be known)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: otherwise)

• पक्षिसत्तम: O best of birds
• पक्षिसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सत्तमः पक्षी; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8 विभक्ति), एकवचन (vocative sg)

• रजसः: of rajas
• रजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), एकवचन (genitive sg)

• शतभागानाम्: of the hundred parts
• शतभागानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (संख्यापूर्वक): शतस्य भागाः; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), बहुवचन (gen pl: of the hundred parts)

• मध्ये: in the middle/among
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन (locative sg)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• विनतासुत: O son of Vinatā
• विनतासुत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनता + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विनतायाः सुतः; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8 विभक्ति), एकवचन (vocative sg)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sattva is not encountered in isolation; it is present as a mixed element, situated amid many portions of rajas.

Vedantic Theme: Empirical purity is relative; even clarity (sattva) operates within prakṛti’s dynamism (rajas).

Application: When experiencing ‘clarity’, recognize the surrounding rajas (restlessness/drive); stabilize sattva through moderation, study, and mindful action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.26, 3.4.28-30 (ratios and mutual pervasion of guṇas)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Vinata-suta)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that sattva is rarely isolated; understanding the mixture of qualities (especially rajas with sattva) is key to interpreting conduct, karma, and spiritual readiness discussed in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse connect to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By stressing that inner qualities are mixed, it implies that post-death outcomes are shaped by blended tendencies—actions driven by rajas may still carry some sattva, affecting merit, purification, and the trajectory described in afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize that purity of mind is cultivated within daily activity: reduce restless rajas through discipline, truthful living, and devotional focus so that sattva becomes stronger and more guiding in choices.