Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

राशीभूतं रजो ज्ञेयन्द्विगुणं तत्तु नान्यथा / राशीभूतस्य रजसः सकाशाद्विनतासुत

Transliteration

rāśībhūtaṃ rajo jñeyandviguṇaṃ tattu nānyathā / rāśībhūtasya rajasaḥ sakāśādvinatāsuta

Translation

当知：罗阇斯（rajas）一旦聚集成团，便成倍增长——确实如此，别无他法。由这聚合的罗阇斯，噢毗那多之子，便生起后续的原理。

Word by Word

• राशीभूतम्: aggregated; massed together
• राशीभूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राशि + भू (धातु) → राशीभूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूत-कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjectival use

• रजः: rajas (the quality of activity)
• रजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञेयम्: to be understood/known
• ज्ञेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• द्विगुणम्: twofold; double
• द्विगुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वपद), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Anubandha/Reference (अनुबन्ध/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• राशीभूतस्य: of the aggregated (mass)
• राशीभूतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राशि + भू (धातु) → राशीभूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूत-कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive qualifier

• रजसः: of rajas
• रजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सकाशात्: from; from the vicinity of
• सकाशात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभ (postpositional indeclinable); पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablative sense)

• विनतासुत: O son of Vinatā (Garuda)
• विनतासुत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनता + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विनतायाः सुतः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When rajas is ‘rāśībhūta’ (mass/aggregate), it is described as ‘dviguṇa’ (doubled), implying intensified dynamism that becomes a causal basis for subsequent evolution.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa dynamics as explanatory model for manifestation; the ‘doubling’ signals increasing differentiation within prakṛti’s evolutes.

Application: Recognize that intensified rajas (restlessness, drive) multiplies activity and consequences; regulate rajas through routine, breath, and sattva-supporting choices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.4.19 (doubling of sattva; not root-prakṛti); Garuda Purana 3.4.20 (prakṛti forms unbounded)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Vinata-suta)
• Rajas (Guṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of rajas (the guṇa of activity) in the Garuda Purana’s cosmology?

This verse highlights rajas as an active, multiplying force: when it becomes “aggregated,” it is described as becoming twofold, indicating its role in driving further manifestation in the chain of creation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by defining rajas as the principle of activity and change, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that the jīva’s experiences and movements through worlds are shaped by guṇas and karma, not by randomness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe how rajas multiplies restlessness and desire; cultivate steadiness (sattva) through ethical conduct, disciplined habits, and mindful restraint so actions don’t spiral into further agitation and bondage.