Shloka 55

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माण्डलैङ्ग्ये ब्रह्मवैवर्तकं वै मार्कंण्डेयं ब्राह्ममादित्यकं च / एतान्या हुस्तामसानीति विप्रास्तत्रैकदेशः सात्त्विको राजसश्च

Transliteration

brahmāṇḍalaiṅgye brahmavaivartakaṃ vai mārkaṃṇḍeyaṃ brāhmamādityakaṃ ca / etānyā hustāmasānīti viprāstatraikadeśaḥ sāttviko rājasaśca

Translation

《梵卵》（Brahmāṇḍa）与《林伽》（Liṅga）、《梵天变现》（Brahma-vaivartaka）、《马尔坎德耶》（Mārkaṇḍeya）、《梵》（Brāhma）与《阿底提耶》（Āditya）——博学的婆罗门宣说：这些《往世书》多以昏暗性（tāmas）为主；然而其中亦有若干段落属清净性（sattva），亦有若干属激动性（rajas）。

Word by Word

• brahmāṇḍa-laiṅgye: in the Brahmāṇḍa and Liṅga (Purāṇas)
• brahmāṇḍa-laiṅgye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + laiṅgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual; dvandva referring to two Purāṇas (Brahmāṇḍa and Liṅga)

• brahmavaivartakam: Brahma-vaivartaka (Purāṇa)
• brahmavaivartakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-vaivartaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa name-compound

• vai: indeed
• vai: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• mārkaṇḍeyam: Mārkaṇḍeya (Purāṇa)
• mārkaṇḍeyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa

• brāhmam: Brāhma (Purāṇa)
• brāhmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa

• ādityakam: Ādityaka (Purāṇa)
• ādityakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādityaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a Purāṇa

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• etāni: these
• etāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• tāmasāni: tāmasa
• tāmasāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; predicative adjective qualifying 'etāni'

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• viprāḥ: the brāhmaṇas; sages
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tatra: there; among them
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• eka-deśaḥ: a portion
• eka-deśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sāttvikaḥ: sāttvika
• sāttvikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāttvika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate of eka-deśaḥ

• rājasaḥ: rājasa
• rājasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; coordinated predicate

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa-based hermeneutics: texts may be predominantly tāmasic yet contain sāttvika and rājasika portions; discernment is required.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-traya and adhikāra-bheda; relative authority of teachings conditioned by guṇas; need for discrimination (viveka) in śravaṇa.

Application: Choose study material according to one’s aim (tattva-jijñāsā vs. other aims); when reading mixed texts, privilege sāttvika passages and interpret tāmasika material cautiously.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.56-59 (continuation on recitation fitness and merit of listening)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa
• Liṅga Purāṇa
• Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa
• Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa
• Brāhma Purāṇa
• Āditya Purāṇa
• Vipras (learned Brahmins)

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying Purāṇas as sāttvic, rājasik, or tāmasic in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames Purāṇas by dominant guṇa (sattva/rajas/tamas), guiding readers toward texts and passages aligned with their spiritual aim, while acknowledging mixed sections within a single Purāṇa.

Does this verse say these Purāṇas are entirely tāmasic?

No. It says they are regarded as predominantly tāmasic, but explicitly notes that some portions within them are sāttvic and some are rājasik.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When studying or citing Purāṇic material, evaluate the tone and intent of the specific passage (sattva/rajas/tamas) rather than assuming the entire text has a single uniform teaching.