Shloka 27

Ahaṅkāra-Tripartition and the Rise of Indriyas, Devatās, and Cosmic Administrators

Devanagari script

चत्त्वार एते पक्षीन्द्र वायुतत्त्वाभिमानिनः / घ्राणाभिमानिनः सर्वे जज्ञिरे द्विजसत्तम

Transliteration

cattvāra ete pakṣīndra vāyutattvābhimāninaḥ / ghrāṇābhimāninaḥ sarve jajñire dvijasattama

Translation

يا ملك الطير، هؤلاء الأربعة يُعَدّون متماهين مع مبدأ عنصر الهواء؛ وكلّهم يتولّون حاسة الشمّ، وقد وُلِدوا، يا أفضلَ ذوي الولادتين.

Word by Word

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पक्षीन्द्र: O lord of birds
• पक्षीन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

• वायु-तत्त्व-अभिमानिनः: identifying with the air-element
• वायु-तत्त्व-अभिमानिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वायुतत्त्वस्य अभिमानिनः = identifying with the air-principle)

• घ्राण-अभिमानिनः: identifying with smell (the nose faculty)
• घ्राण-अभिमानिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घ्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (घ्राणस्य अभिमानिनः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• जज्ञिरे: were born/arose
• जज्ञिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• द्विजसत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (द्विजः सत्तमः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhiṣṭhātṛ-devatā doctrine: specific beings preside over elements and senses; vāyu-tattva correlates with smell (ghrāṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Subtle-body (sūkṣma-śarīra) functionalism: indriyas and tanmātras operate under cosmic intelligences within māyā.

Application: For meditation/yoga: contemplate vāyu’s role in prāṇa and sensory function; for study: map indriya–tattva correspondences to understand Purāṇic psychology.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.5 (element-sense-deity correspondences)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vayu-tattva
• Ghrana (sense of smell)

FAQs

What is the importance of vāyu-tattva (air principle) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific beings/functions to the vāyu-tattva, showing how elemental principles operate through faculties of the subtle body, here especially connected with sensory function.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By indicating presiding principles behind senses and elements, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader framework that the jīva’s experience after death depends on subtle-body faculties (indriyas/tattvas) that continue beyond the gross body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sense-discipline and purity (especially of perception and desire), recognizing that sensory faculties are subtle forces; this supports steadier mind and dhārmic living.