Shloka 4
Ajāna Lineages, Divine Classes, Ṛṣi Catalogues, and the Merit of Śravaṇa-Smaraṇa
विद्याधरश्चोग्रसेनो विश्वावसुपरावसू / चित्रसेनश्च गोपालो बलः पञ्चदश स्मृताः
vidyādharaścograseno viśvāvasuparāvasū / citrasenaśca gopālo balaḥ pañcadaśa smṛtāḥ
Vidyādhara, Ugrasena, Viśvāvasu and Parāvasu, as well as Citrasena, Gopāla, and Bala—these are remembered as (part of) the fifteen (named beings).
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Concept: Systematization of cosmic beings by name and number; knowledge preserved through ‘smṛti’ (remembered tradition).
Vedantic Theme: The many as organized manifestations within prakṛti; enumeration as preparatory knowledge, not final liberation.
Application: When learning complex systems, track both members and totals; verify completeness (e.g., ‘fifteen remembered’).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.9.3 (preceding names); Garuda Purana 3.9.2 (category definition: karma-devatās)
FAQs
This verse preserves a traditional enumeration of specific named beings, helping readers identify and remember categories of celestial attendants (often Gandharva-type figures) within Purāṇic cosmology.
Directly, it does not describe the soul’s journey; instead, it contributes to the broader Purāṇic framework of cosmic beings and realms that contextualize later discussions on afterlife, judgment, and subtle-world geography.
Use it as a reference for accurate recitation, study, and indexing of Garuda Purana cosmology—especially when compiling digital archives, glossaries, or ritual-reading notes that require correct proper names.