Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

अष्टकस्य गणाः पञ्च तथा प्रोक्ता दिवौकसाम् / इन्द्रो मनोजवः शत्रुर्महाकालो महाभजः

Transliteration

aṣṭakasya gaṇāḥ pañca tathā proktā divaukasām / indro manojavaḥ śatrurmahākālo mahābhajaḥ

Translation

Thus, among the gods, five groups belonging to the Aṣṭakas are declared: Indra, Manojava, Śatru, Mahākāla, and Mahābhaja.

Word by Word

• अष्टकस्य: of Aṣṭaka
• अष्टकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• गणाः: groups, hosts
• गणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse linker/सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: thus/also)

• प्रोक्ताः: are declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रवच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (are) ‘declared/said’

• दिवौकसाम्: of the dwellers in heaven (gods)
• दिवौकसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Apposition (नाम-निर्देश/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मनोजवः: Manojava (proper name; ‘swift as mind’)
• मनोजवः: Apposition (नाम-निर्देश/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शत्रुः: Śatru (proper name / enemy)
• शत्रुः: Apposition (नाम-निर्देश/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महाकालः: Mahākāla (proper name)
• महाकालः: Apposition (नाम-निर्देश/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महाभजः: Mahābhaja (proper name; reading uncertain)
• महाभजः: Apposition (नाम-निर्देश/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (पाठानुसार)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic functions are distributed among divine groups; order is maintained through designated powers and offices.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s governance through devatā-adhikāra (functional deities) within vyavahāra.

Application: See institutions and roles as functional supports for order; cultivate responsibility in one’s appointed duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial assembly/realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.87.25-26 (transition from gaṇa lists to Hari’s intervention)

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭakas
• Devas
• Indra
• Manojava
• Śatru
• Mahākāla
• Mahābhaja

FAQs

What is the importance of the Aṣṭaka gaṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional classification of celestial groups (gaṇas) connected with the Aṣṭakas, functioning as a cosmological catalogue of divine attendants and their chief names.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by mapping the divine hierarchy of heaven-dwellers (divaukas), it supports the Purāṇic worldview in which post-death destinations (higher worlds) are governed by ordered celestial administrations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that dharma is presented within an ordered cosmic framework—encouraging disciplined living, reverence in ritual, and study of scriptural classifications without confusion.