Shloka 34

Devanagari script

हरिता लोहिता देवास् तथा सुमनसो द्विज सुकर्माणः सुपाराश् च दशकाः पञ्च वै गणाः

Transliteration

haritā lohitā devās tathā sumanaso dvija sukarmāṇaḥ supārāś ca daśakāḥ pañca vai gaṇāḥ

Translation

O twice-born one, the divine hosts are named Harita, Lohita, and Sumanasa; likewise Sukarmāṇa and Supārāśa. These are five gaṇas, each a company of ten.

Word by Word

• हरिताः: Haritas (name/group)
• हरिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लोहिताः: Lohitas (name/group)
• लोहिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• सुमनसः: Sumanasas (good-minded; name/group)
• सुमनसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—सु मनः येषाम्/सु-मनस् (good-minded)

• द्विज: O twice-born (sage)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• सुकर्माणः: Sukarmāṇas (doers of good deeds; name/group)
• सुकर्माणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—सु कर्माणि येषाम्/सुकर्मन्

• सुपाराः: Supāras (name/group)
• सुपाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + पार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—सु पाराः (excellent/fortunate ‘crossers’; name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• दशकाः: tens (each a set of ten)
• दशकाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (groups of ten)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Numeral/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; संख्या (numeral ‘five’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक

• गणाः: groups
• गणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The five deva-gaṇas (each ten) presiding in the Rudra-sāvarṇi Manvantara

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Rudra-savarni (12th)

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deva-hosts are precisely grouped (five gaṇas of ten), illustrating the structured, harmonious administration of a Manvantara under the sustaining power of Viṣṇu.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use the idea of ‘ordered ranks’ to cultivate inner discipline—organize duties, senses, and time toward dharma and worship.

Vishishtadvaita: The verse implies Viṣṇu’s sustaining causality (jagat-kāraṇa) expressed as ordered plurality—many real deva-functions unified by dependence on the One.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Haritas
• Lohitas
• Sumanasas
• Sukarmāṇas
• Supārāśas
• Devas
• Maitreya
• Parāśara
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of listing deva-gaṇas in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse emphasizes that cosmic governance is structured into defined divine hosts (gaṇas), portraying the Manvantara as an ordered system upheld by Viṣṇu’s sustaining power.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the organization of the gods here?

Parāśara presents five named classes of devas—Haritas, Lohitas, Sumanasas, Sukarmāṇas, and Supārāśas—stating they form five gaṇas, each consisting of ten members.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when the verse enumerates deities, the Purāṇic framework treats their ranks as functions within Viṣṇu’s supreme sovereignty—cosmic order is ultimately grounded in Him as the sustaining reality.