Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

तमेवं संशयं छिन्धि यद्धि तच्छ्रोतुमर्हति / श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / त्रिभागभूते रजसि तथा द्वादशधापि च

Transliteration

tamevaṃ saṃśayaṃ chindhi yaddhi tacchrotumarhati / śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / tribhāgabhūte rajasi tathā dvādaśadhāpi ca

Translation

จงตัดความสงสัยนี้เสีย เพราะเป็นสิ่งควรแก่การสดับฟัง ศรีกฤษณะตรัสว่า— รชัสมีสามส่วน และยังกล่าวกันว่าเป็นสิบสองประการด้วย

Word by Word

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• संशयम्: doubt
• संशयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• छिन्धि: cut off/remove
• छिन्धि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात

• तत्: that (correlative to yat)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; तद्-प्रत्यय (correlative)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रोतुम् (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय, infinitive)
• Form: कृदन्त; तुमुनन्त (infinitive); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; क्रियार्थक

• अर्हति: is worthy/deserves
• अर्हति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्री-कृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्री-कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् कृष्णः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• त्रि-भाग-भूते: when (it is) in three parts / in the threefold state
• त्रि-भाग-भूते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रिभागं भूते = threefold-divided)

• रजसि: in rajas
• रजसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयवाचक (adverb: likewise)

• द्वादशधा: in twelve ways
• द्वादशधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्वादशधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in twelve ways)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as indicated by ‘śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca’)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rajas is classified as threefold and also as twelvefold—indicating layered analytical schemes for the same guṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Analytical enumeration (saṅkhyāna) as a tool for discrimination; multiple śāstric models can coexist to illuminate prakṛti’s modes.

Application: When studying mind and behavior, use structured categories: identify rajasic patterns (restlessness, craving, agitation) in coarse and subtle forms; apply discipline to reduce them.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana guṇa-traya expositions in adjacent verses (3.4.66–70) and later ethical sections linking guṇas to conduct

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Rajas (Guṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding rajas (the quality of passion) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames rajas as a technical, classifiable principle (threefold and twelvefold), implying that knowing its forms helps remove doubt and understand how actions and tendencies arise from guṇas.

How does this verse relate to karma and the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing rajas as a structured force behind action and desire, the verse supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that karmic outcomes (including post-death experiences) depend on the qualities driving one’s deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe which rājasic impulses (restlessness, ambition, agitation) dominate decisions, and cultivate steadiness and clarity so actions become more ethical and less driven by compulsive desire.