Shloka 31

Manvantara Catalog: Fourteen Manus, Their Sons, Saptarishis, Indras, Deva-Hosts, and the 18 Vidyās

Devanagari script

द्वावश्विनौ विनिर्दिष्टौ विश्वेदेवास्तथा दशा / दशौवाङ्गिरसो देवा नव देवगणास्तथा

Transliteration

dvāvaśvinau vinirdiṣṭau viśvedevāstathā daśā / daśauvāṅgiraso devā nava devagaṇāstathā

Translation

وقد عُيِّن الأشفينان (Aśvins) اثنين؛ وكذلك الفيشڤيديفات (Viśvedevas) عشرة. وآلهة ڤانْغيرَسا (Vāṅgirasa) أيضًا عشرة، وجماعات الآلهة تسع كذلك.

Word by Word

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक (two)

• अश्विनौ: the two Aśvins
• अश्विनौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• विनिर्दिष्टौ: are specified
• विनिर्दिष्टौ: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + निर् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मणि ("are specified")

• विश्वेदेवाः: the Viśvedevas (all-gods)
• विश्वेदेवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (विश्वे देवाः = all the gods)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• दश: ten
• दश: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (विश्वेदेवाः इत्यस्य संख्या)

• दश: ten
• दश: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (देवाः इत्यस्य संख्या)

• उवाङ्गिरसः: Uvāṅgirasa gods (a class/name)
• उवाङ्गिरसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उ (उपसर्ग/निपात) + वाङ्गिरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पाठभेदसम्भवः (उव-आङ्गिरसः/उवाङ्गिरसः)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (देवगणाः इत्यस्य संख्या)

• देवगणाः: groups of gods
• देवगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां गणाः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Remembering deva-gaṇas and their numbers disciplines cognition and aligns ritual speech with cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Multiplicity of devatās as functional faces of the One; śabda (sacred naming) as a means of ordering experience.

Application: Cultivate attentive speech and memory; approach tradition with accuracy; use structured lists as contemplative scaffolding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.87 (deva-gaṇa enumeration sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Aśvins
• Viśvedevas
• Vāṅgirasa Devas
• Deva-gaṇas

FAQs

What is the importance of listing deity groups (Aśvins, Viśvedevas, Vāṅgirasa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional Vedic taxonomy—enumerating divine classes by number—to anchor ritual, cosmological, and doctrinal discussions in an accepted canonical framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by mapping the divine order (deva-classes), it situates later teachings about cosmic governance—how different realms and functions are administered within dharma and ritual cosmology.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reference for accurate recitation, study, and ritual literacy—understanding who these deity classes are helps maintain correctness in prayers, saṅkalpa, and traditional explanations of Vedic/Purāṇic cosmology.