Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

रैवन्तेयस्तथा भीमो वामदेवो वृषाकपिः / अजैकपादहिर्वुध्न्यो बहुरूपो महानिति

Transliteration

raivanteyastathā bhīmo vāmadevo vṛṣākapiḥ / ajaikapādahirvudhnyo bahurūpo mahāniti

Translation

“Raivanteya, dan juga Bhīma; Vāmadeva; Vṛṣākapi; Ajā‑ekapād; Ahirbudhnya; Bahurūpa; dan Mahān”—demikianlah nama-nama itu dilafazkan.

Word by Word

• रैवन्तेयः: Raivanteya (a Rudra name)
• रैवन्तेयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवन्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: also/and
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/क्रमसूचक (conjunctive/adverb: 'also/and then')

• भीमः: Bhīma (a Rudra name)
• भीमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• वामदेवः: Vāmadeva (a Rudra name)
• वामदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (वामः देवः)

• वृषाकपिः: Vṛṣākapi (a Rudra name)
• वृषाकपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वृषस्य कपिः / वृष-कपिः)

• अजैकपात्: Ajaikapād (a Rudra name)
• अजैकपात्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज + एक + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (अजः + एकपादः)

• अहिर्बुध्न्यः: Ahirbudhnya (a Rudra name)
• अहिर्बुध्न्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहि + बुध्न्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अहिः बुध्न्यः)

• बहुरूपः: Many-formed (Bahurūpa; a Rudra name)
• बहुरूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; समासः बहुव्रीहिः (बहूनि रूपाणि यस्य)

• महान्: Great (Mahān; a Rudra name)
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; महत्-शब्दः (irregular stem)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle: 'thus')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rudra’s nāma-rūpa plurality: distinct epithets encode functions, domains, and energies.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahman apprehended through many upāsanā-nāmas; unity implied beneath diversity.

Application: Chant as a mnemonic list; reflect on each epithet as a contemplative ‘handle’ (ālambana) for understanding divine attributes and one’s own inner forces (fear, courage, protection).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.5.30 (intro to ten Rudras); Garuda Purana 3.5.32 (closure and transition)

Characters & Entities

• Raivanteya
• Bhima
• Vamadeva
• Vrsakapi
• Ajaikapad
• Ahirbudhnya
• Bahurupa
• Mahan

FAQs

What is the importance of reciting these names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a name-list (nāma-ucchāraṇa); such recitation is presented as meritorious and protective, strengthening remembrance of divine powers and auspicious qualities.

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

While not describing punishments or Yama’s path directly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s larger theme that sacred remembrance and right recitation aid the jīva by building spiritual merit and steadiness during transitional states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a short daily nāma-recitation: chant slowly with attention to meaning (greatness, many-formed divinity, auspiciousness), cultivating dharma-mindedness and calm in times of fear or grief.