Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

स्वायंभुवमनोर्भार्या शतरूपा यमस्तथा / चन्द्रसूर्यौ तु चत्त्वारश्चक्षुरिन्द्रियमानिनः

Transliteration

svāyaṃbhuvamanorbhāryā śatarūpā yamastathā / candrasūryau tu cattvāraścakṣurindriyamāninaḥ

Translation

Die Gemahlin des Svāyambhuva Manu ist Śatarūpā; ebenso (ist da) Yama. Mond und Sonne sowie die vier Hüter der Himmelsrichtungen gelten als die vorstehenden Gottheiten des Sehsinnes.

Word by Word

• स्वायंभुवमनुः: of Svāyaṃbhuva Manu
• स्वायंभुवमनुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वायंभुव + मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: स्वायंभुवः मनुः

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शतरूपा: Śatarūpā
• शतरूपा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतरूपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘भार्या’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (appositional proper name)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (likewise)

• चन्द्रसूर्यौ: the Moon and the Sun
• चन्द्रसूर्यौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: चन्द्रः + सूर्यः

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विशेष/विरोधार्थ (particle: but/indeed)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• चक्षुः-इन्द्रिय-मानिनः: presiding deities of the eye-sense
• चक्षुः-इन्द्रिय-मानिनः: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Predicate nominative of ‘चत्वारः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् + इन्द्रिय + मानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: चक्षुरिन्द्रियस्य मानिनः = those who preside over/identify with the eye-sense

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhidaiva-adhyātma correspondence: sense-faculties are governed by cosmic deities; perception is not merely personal but structured by cosmic principles.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-adhishthātr̥-devatā and the layered self (adhyātma/adhidaiva); supports viveka by seeing senses as instruments, not the Self.

Application: Cultivate sense-discipline and reverence: treat seeing as a sacred function; practice mindful perception and reduce identification with sensory power.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda/early cosmology sections): indriya-devatā enumerations around 3.5.xx; Garuda Purana: discussions of adhidaiva correspondences preceding/continuing this list

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhuva Manu
• Shatarupa
• Yama
• Chandra
• Surya
• Four Dikpalas

FAQs

What is the importance of indriya-devatās (presiding deities of the senses) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse reflects the Purāṇic mapping of the human senses to cosmic powers, teaching that perception (like sight) is supported and governed by specific deities, reinforcing dharma through awareness of divine order.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana themes like karma and afterlife teachings?

By identifying presiding deities for faculties such as sight, the text frames perception and action as part of a regulated cosmic system—supporting later teachings where deeds (karma) are evaluated under divine governance, including Yama’s jurisdiction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sensory life—especially what one chooses to see—as ethically significant: cultivate restraint, avoid harmful sights, and practice mindful perception as part of dharmic living.