Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

तदाहुर्ब्रह्मणो रूपं गुणवैषम्यनामकम् / चतुर्भागात्मकं प्रोक्तं महत्तत्त्वं श्रुतं मया

Transliteration

tadāhurbrahmaṇo rūpaṃ guṇavaiṣamyanāmakam / caturbhāgātmakaṃ proktaṃ mahattattvaṃ śrutaṃ mayā

Translation

وہ کہتے ہیں کہ برہمن کی صورت ‘گُنوں کی ناہموار تفریق’ کے نام سے جانی جاتی ہے۔ اور مہت تتّو کو چار حصّوں والا کہا گیا ہے—یہ میں نے سنا ہے۔

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of Brahmā/Brahman’

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• guṇa-vaiṣamya-nāmakam: called ‘guṇa-inequality’
• guṇa-vaiṣamya-nāmakam: Karma-predicative (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + vaiṣamya + nāmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (‘named/characterized by inequality of guṇas’)

• catur-bhāga-ātmakam: four-part in nature
• catur-bhāga-ātmakam: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + bhāga + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘having the nature of four parts’)

• proktam: declared
• proktam: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त; √vac वच् धातु, उपसर्ग: pra-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘declared’

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

• śrutam: heard
• śrutam: Karta-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruta (कृदन्त; √śru श्रु धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘heard’

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (common), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘by me’

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), reporting traditional teaching to Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Manifest ‘form’ associated with Brahman is described as guṇa-vaiṣamya (uneven differentiation of guṇas); Mahat is fourfold—received as authoritative teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Nirguṇa Brahman vs. saguṇa manifestation through māyā/prakṛti; ‘form’ language points to upādhi-conditioned appearance, not ultimate essence.

Application: Discriminate the unchanging Self from guṇa-conditioned intellect; treat guṇa-perturbations as objects of knowledge, not identity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.56 (fourfold Mahat); Garuda Purana 3.4.58-60 (doubt and reconciliation)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Guṇas
• Mahat-tattva

FAQs

What is the importance of guṇa-vaiṣamya in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames creation as beginning with guṇa-vaiṣamya—an imbalance or differentiation of sattva, rajas, and tamas—through which the unmanifest is spoken of as appearing in a knowable ‘form’.

How does this verse explain the origin of Mahat-tattva?

It presents Mahat-tattva (cosmic intellect) as a primary principle associated with the first differentiation of the guṇas, and notes a traditional teaching that it is described as fourfold.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seeing experience as shaped by shifting guṇas supports self-discipline: cultivate sattva (clarity) through ethical conduct, moderation, and study to steady the mind and reduce rajas/tamas-driven impulses.