Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

पुराणं धर्मशास्त्रं च आयुर्वेदार्थशास्त्रकम् / धनुर्वेदश्च गान्धर्वो विद्या ह्यष्टादशैव ताः

Transliteration

purāṇaṃ dharmaśāstraṃ ca āyurvedārthaśāstrakam / dhanurvedaśca gāndharvo vidyā hyaṣṭādaśaiva tāḥ

Translation

The Purāṇa, the Dharmaśāstra, Ayurveda, and Arthaśāstra; as well as Dhanurveda and Gāndharva—these are indeed among the eighteen branches of knowledge.

Word by Word

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्मशास्त्रम्: Dharma-śāstra
• धर्मशास्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आयुर्वेदार्थशास्त्रकम्: Āyurveda and Arthaśāstra (together)
• आयुर्वेदार्थशास्त्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुर्वेद + अर्थशास्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva)

• धनुर्वेदः: Dhanurveda (martial science)
• धनुर्वेदः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गान्धर्वः: Gāndharva (music/art)
• गान्धर्वः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विद्याः: branches of knowledge
• विद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (particle: indeed/for)

• अष्टादश: eighteen
• अष्टादश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादश (संख्यावाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याशब्दः; विशेषण (numeral: eighteen)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle)

• ताः: those (i.e., those sciences)
• ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eighteen vidyās include Purāṇa, Dharmaśāstra, Ayurveda, Arthaśāstra, Dhanurveda, and Gāndharva—knowledge is multi-domain and supports righteous life.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as the stabilizing framework for artha/kāma pursuits; śāstra-guided living as preparation for higher realization.

Application: Pursue holistic education: ethics (dharma), wellbeing (āyurveda), livelihood/governance (artha), disciplined strength (dhanur), and refined aesthetics (gāndharva) under moral restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.87.63 (continuation of vidyā enumeration)

FAQs

What is the importance of the eighteen vidyās in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Purāṇa, Dharmaśāstra, Ayurveda, Arthaśāstra, Dhanurveda, and Gāndharva as recognized branches within the classical set of eighteen vidyās, showing that dharma and practical sciences are both part of sacred learning.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing Dharmaśāstra and Purāṇa as core vidyās, it implies that right conduct and scriptural understanding guide one’s karma and thus influence the soul’s post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ethical living (dharma) and disciplined study as foundational, while also valuing health (Ayurveda), livelihood/statecraft (Arthaśāstra), and arts/skills (Gāndharva, Dhanurveda) as integrated supports for a balanced life.