Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

द्यावा पृथिव्यौ विज्ञेयौ एते च षडशीतयः / देवाः प्रजज्ञिरे सर्वे नासिकद्रियमानिनः

Transliteration

dyāvā pṛthivyau vijñeyau ete ca ṣaḍaśītayaḥ / devāḥ prajajñire sarve nāsikadriyamāninaḥ

Translation

Erkenne Himmel (Dyauḥ) und Erde (Pṛthivī) und ebenso diese sechsundachtzig Prinzipien (tattva). Aus ihnen wurden alle Götter geboren—jene, die über den Geruchssinn wachen und sich mit dem nasalen Vermögen identifizieren.

Word by Word

• द्यावापृथिव्यौ: Heaven and Earth
• द्यावापृथिव्यौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dyāvā + pṛthivyau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘Dyāvā (heaven) and Pṛthivī (earth)’

• विज्ञेयौ: to be known
• विज्ञेयौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘to be known/recognized’

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• षडशीतयः: (the) eighty-six (in number)
• षडशीतयः: Karta (कर्ता/predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ + aśīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यासमास (द्विगु); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘six and eighty’ (=86)

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

• प्रजज्ञिरे: were born; came into being
• प्रजज्ञिरे: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + jan (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• नासिकद्रियमानिनः: identifying with nose and senses
• नासिकद्रियमानिनः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāsikā + indriya + mānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘those who identify with (mānin) the nose and the senses’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tattva-vicāra: enumerating principles and mapping devatās to indriya-abhimāna (sense-identification).

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāropa of functional deities upon subtle principles; discrimination between tattva and its presiding intelligence as part of viveka.

Application: Use the mapping of senses to presiding powers to cultivate indriya-saṃyama and mindful perception (especially smell) as a doorway to subtle awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic dyad / loka-pair

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.5.40-43 (continuation of abhimāni-devatā mapping for elements/senses)

Characters & Entities

• Dyauḥ (Heaven)
• Pṛthivī (Earth)
• Devas
• Nāsikendriya (sense of smell)

FAQs

What is the importance of listing Heaven, Earth, and the 'eighty-six' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames creation as a structured set of principles (tattvas), showing how cosmic foundations (Heaven and Earth) relate to the emergence of divine functions and sensory governance.

How does this verse connect devas with the human senses?

It states that certain devas arise as presiding powers of specific faculties—here, the nasal sense (smell)—indicating that perception is supported by cosmic intelligences, not merely physical organs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the senses as sacred and disciplined instruments: cultivate purity (śauca), mindful intake (food, fragrance, environment), and restraint so sensory life supports dharma rather than distraction.