Shloka 47

Sṛṣṭi-krama: Brahmā’s Sequential Creation of Devas, Sages, and Sense-Presiding Powers

Devanagari script

विष्वक्सेनो महाभागो वायुपुत्रो महाबलः / तस्माच्चतुर्दशे वर्षे गणपो ह्यभवद्विभोः

Transliteration

viṣvakseno mahābhāgo vāyuputro mahābalaḥ / tasmāccaturdaśe varṣe gaṇapo hyabhavadvibhoḥ

Translation

Viṣvaksena, der Hochbegnadete und von großer Kraft, der Sohn Vāyus; daraufhin wurde er im vierzehnten Jahr wahrlich zum gaṇapa, zum Befehlshaber des allgegenwärtigen Herrn.

Word by Word

• विष्वक्सेनः: Viṣvaksena
• विष्वक्सेनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्वक्सेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महाभागः: very fortunate, illustrious
• महाभागः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• वायुपुत्रः: son of Vāyu
• वायुपुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तस्मात्: from him/thereafter
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चतुर्दशे: in the fourteenth
• चतुर्दशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral qualifier)

• वर्षे: year
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (time-locative)

• गणपः: Gaṇapa
• गणपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—निश्चय/हेतु (indeed/for)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विभोः: of the Lord
• विभोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine administration: the Lord’s realm functions with appointed guardians; devotion includes honoring the Lord’s attendants and cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s līlā-vibhūti (organized divine manifestation) supporting bhakti and śaraṇāgati.

Application: Strengthen devotional discipline by beginning sacred acts with reverence for divine guardianship and cultivating inner ‘senāpati’—steadfast resolve against distraction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.13 (divine beings and appointments in creation narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣvaksena
• Vāyu
• Vibhu (Lord Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of Viṣvaksena being called gaṇapa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Viṣvaksena’s appointment as the Lord’s commander of attendants, indicating an ordered divine administration and the exalted status of Vishnu’s principal servant.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like dharma and spiritual order?

By describing an appointed leader (gaṇapa) serving the Vibhu, the verse underscores hierarchy, duty, and disciplined service—core dharmic ideals reflected in Purāṇic teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined service and responsibility in one’s role—performing duties with strength (bala) and good fortune (bhāgya) directed toward righteous purposes.