Shloka 3

Haristuti-saṅgraha: Devatā–Ṛṣi Praṇāma, Nāma-māhātmya, and Vairāgya from Deha-āsakti

Devanagari script

गुणांशतो दशभी रुद्रतो वै सदा न्यूनो मत्समः कामदेवः / ज्ञाने बले समता सर्वदास्ति तथाः कामः किं च दूतः सदैव

Transliteration

guṇāṃśato daśabhī rudrato vai sadā nyūno matsamaḥ kāmadevaḥ / jñāne bale samatā sarvadāsti tathāḥ kāmaḥ kiṃ ca dūtaḥ sadaiva

Translation

โดยส่วนแห่งคุณลักษณะ กามเทพย่อมด้อยกว่าพระรุทระอยู่เสมอถึงสิบเท่า; กระนั้นเขาก็เสมอด้วยเรา ในญาณและพละย่อมมีความเสมออยู่ตลอด; เพราะฉะนั้นกามะจึงเป็นทูตอยู่เป็นนิตย์

Word by Word

• guṇa-aṃśataḥ: as to (his) share of qualities
• guṇa-aṃśataḥ: Hetu/Avadhi (हेतु/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative adverbial (तसिल्/ablatival adverb), ‘in respect of parts of qualities’; samāsa: ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (गुणानाम् अंशः) + तसिल्

• daśabhiḥ: by ten (fold)
• daśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; (used as measure)

• rudrataḥ: than Rudra
• rudrataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative adverb (तसिल्), ‘from/than Rudra’ (comparative source)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘always’

• nyūnaḥ: less/inferior
• nyūnaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective

• mat-samaḥ: equal to me
• mat-samaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; samāsa: ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (मत्समः = मम समः)

• kāmadevaḥ: Kāmadeva (god of love)
• kāmadevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; samāsa: tatpuruṣa (कामा॑स्य देवः/कामदेवः)

• jñāne: in knowledge
• jñāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• bale: in strength
• bale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• samatā: equality
• samatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘always/at all times’

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle, ‘thus/so’

• kāmaḥ: Kāma (Love)
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• kim: and what/also
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative particle used idiomatically (निपात), ‘what?/also?’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक निपात), ‘and’

• dūtaḥ: messenger
• dūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb, ‘always’

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात), ‘indeed/just’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tārātamya (gradation) of guṇāṃśa among deities and functional roles (Kāma as dūta) within cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Distinguishing functional divinity (upādhi-based roles) from ultimate reality; roles operate within māyā/guṇa frameworks while the supreme remains the measure.

Application: Understand symbolic roles: desire (kāma) can be a messenger/impulse—discipline it rather than absolutize it; discern hierarchy of values (śiva/viṣṇu-tattva vs impulses).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: cosmological and deity-role discussions in purāṇic narrative sections (general)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Kama (Kamadeva)
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Kāma (desire) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Kāma as a cosmic force with an assigned role—an ever-present “messenger”—implying desire can move beings toward action and consequence, and therefore must be understood and governed through dharma.

How does this verse explain spiritual hierarchy among deities?

It distinguishes “portion of qualities” (guṇāṁśa) from essential parity in knowledge and strength, suggesting that functional rank can differ while certain divine capacities are spoken of as comparable within the narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat desire as a signal rather than a master: observe it, interpret what it is “messaging,” and choose dharmic action—self-restraint, right intention, and ethical conduct—so impulses do not lead to harmful karma.