Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्भागात्समुत्पन्नं महत्तत्त्वमिति प्रभो / तत्रैकांशस्तमः प्रोक्तः त्रिभागो रज एव च

Transliteration

caturbhāgātsamutpannaṃ mahattattvamiti prabho / tatraikāṃśastamaḥ proktaḥ tribhāgo raja eva ca

Translation

ข้าแต่พระผู้เป็นเจ้า มหัตตัตตวะ (ปัญญาจักรวาลอันยิ่งใหญ่) กล่าวกันว่าเกิดเป็นสี่ส่วน ในบรรดานั้นหนึ่งส่วนเป็นตมัส และสามส่วนเป็นรชัส

Word by Word

• catur-bhāgāt: from four parts
• catur-bhāgāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु (‘four parts’)

• samutpannam: arisen/produced
• samutpannam: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samutpanna (कृदन्त; √pad/√utpad उत्पद् धातु, उपसर्ग: sam+ut-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘arisen/produced’

• mahat-tattvam: the Mahat principle
• mahat-tattvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• iti: thus/‘as’
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-निपात (quotative particle)

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tatra: therein
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb) ‘there/in that’

• eka-aṃśaḥ: one portion
• eka-aṃśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tamaḥ: tamas
• tamaḥ: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘darkness/tamas’

• proktaḥ: is declared
• proktaḥ: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त; √vac वच् धातु, उपसर्ग: pra-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘declared/said’ (agreeing with aṃśaḥ)

• tri-bhāgaḥ: three parts
• tri-bhāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु (‘three parts’)

• rajaḥ: rajas
• rajaḥ: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘rajas’

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahat-tattva arises fourfold; guṇa-composition specified as 1 part tamas and 3 parts rajas (as presented here).

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti-guṇa-vikāra as the basis of manifest intellect; distinction between Brahman and its upādhi (guṇa-miśra prakṛti) implied.

Application: Use guṇa-analysis to diagnose mental states (buddhi colored by rajas/tamas) and cultivate sattva through discipline and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.57-60 (continuation resolving guṇa/parts question)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Mahat-tattva
• Tamas
• Rajas

FAQs

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

This verse identifies Mahat-tattva as a foundational cosmic principle arising in a structured proportion, showing how creation is governed by guṇic composition rather than randomness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing the dominance of rajas and the presence of tamas within Mahat, it hints that embodied experience and karmic motion arise from rajas, while confusion and inertia arise from tamas—factors that condition the jīva’s bondage and journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattvic habits (clarity, restraint, study) to reduce tamas and moderate rajas, supporting steadier judgment and more ethical action—key for karmic purification emphasized throughout the Purana.