Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

एवं दशविधा ज्ञेया विश्वेदेवाः प्रकीर्तिताः / तथा ऋभुगणश्चोक्तस्तथा च पितरस्त्रयः

Transliteration

evaṃ daśavidhā jñeyā viśvedevāḥ prakīrtitāḥ / tathā ṛbhugaṇaścoktastathā ca pitarastrayaḥ

Translation

Ainsi, les Viśvedevas doivent être connus comme étant dix, ainsi que proclamé. De même est mentionné le groupe des Ṛbhus, et aussi les trois classes de Pitṛs (ancêtres).

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• दशविधाः: of ten kinds
• दशविधाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्ञेयाः: to be known
• ज्ञेयाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विश्वेदेवाः: the Viśvedevas
• विश्वेदेवाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśve + devāḥ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्तिताः: have been proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + kīrt (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• ऋभुगणः: the group of Ṛbhus
• ऋभुगणः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛbhu + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘group of Ṛbhus’)

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

• उक्तः: has been said
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

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

• पितरः: the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta (कर्ता/quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma includes honoring both divine functionaries (Viśvedevas, Ṛbhus) and ancestral lineages (three Pitṛ classes), maintaining continuity between cosmic and familial orders.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnectedness of adhidaiva (deity level) and adhyātma/adhyātmika life through ritual memory; gratitude as a purifier of mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).

Application: Integrate devatā-smaraṇa with pitṛ-smaraṇa in household practice; keep genealogical and ritual remembrance alive through periodic offerings and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.5.34-37 (preceding enumerations culminating here)

Characters & Entities

• Vishvedevas
• Rbhus
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the Viśvedevas in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse identifies the Viśvedevas as a defined tenfold group, indicating they are a standard, ritually recognized class of deities invoked in ancestral offerings and related rites.

How does this verse relate to the journey of the soul after death?

By naming the Viśvedevas, Ṛbhus, and the threefold Pitṛs, the verse situates post-death rites within a structured divine and ancestral framework—suggesting that proper invocation and offerings support the deceased through the preta-related transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or tarpaṇa, follow a traditional, well-structured procedure that honors the recognized deity-groups and Pitṛs, emphasizing sincerity and dharmic conduct alongside ritual correctness.