Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

रसात्मक उदानश्च समानो गन्धनामकः / अपां नाथाश्च चत्वारो मरुतः परिकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

rasātmaka udānaśca samāno gandhanāmakaḥ / apāṃ nāthāśca catvāro marutaḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Translation

ອຸດານະ ຖືກກ່າວວ່າມີສະພາບເປັນລົດຊາດ (rasa) ແລະ ສະມານະ ຮູ້ຈັກໃນນາມ «ຄັນທະ» ແມ່ນກິ່ນ. ມະຣຸດທັງສີ່ ກໍຖືກປະກາດວ່າເປັນເຈົ້າແຫ່ງນ້ຳທັງປວງ.

Word by Word

• रस-आत्मकः: having the nature of taste
• रस-आत्मकः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रसस्य आत्मकः)

• उदानः: Udāna (vital air)
• उदानः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• समानः: Samāna (vital air)
• समानः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गन्ध-नामकः: called/associated with smell
• गन्ध-नामकः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + नामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गन्ध-नामकः = ‘named/connected with smell’)

• अपाम्: of the waters
• अपाम्: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘waters’

• नाथाः: lords/masters
• नाथाः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• मरुतः: Maruts / winds
• मरुतः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परिकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/described
• परिकीर्तिताः: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are described’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correlation of prāṇa-vāyus with sensory essences (rasa/gandha) and deva-governance (Maruts) over elements (waters).

Vedantic Theme: Adhyātma–adhidaiva–adhibhūta correspondence; ordered manifestation within prakṛti under cosmic intelligences.

Application: Use the mapping as a contemplative aid in prāṇāyāma/inner observation: notice how breath-functions condition perception and stability of the body-mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.5 (tattva/utpatti-nirūpaṇa context; adjacent verses on subsequent emanations)

Characters & Entities

• Udana
• Samana
• Maruts
• Apah (Waters)

FAQs

What is the importance of Udāna and Samāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific prāṇas to sensory principles—Udāna with rasa (taste/essence) and Samāna with gandha (smell)—showing how the subtle body functions through prāṇa-sense correspondences.

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

Garuda Purana often explains post-death experience through the subtle body; identifying prāṇas and their sensory roles helps describe how perception and vitality are structured when the gross body is left behind.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative framework: regulate breath and digestion (Samāna), cultivate steadiness and upward-moving clarity (Udāna), and practice disciplined living that refines the senses rather than letting them dominate.