Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

स्वाहानन्तरजो ज्ञेयो ज्ञानात्मा बुधनामकः / बुधस्तु चन्द्रपुत्रो यः स्वाहाया अधमः स्मृतः

Transliteration

svāhānantarajo jñeyo jñānātmā budhanāmakaḥ / budhastu candraputro yaḥ svāhāyā adhamaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

ஸ்வாஹாவிற்குப் பின்பு உடனே பிறந்தவன் புத்தன்; அவனது இயல்பே ஞானம் என அறிய வேண்டும். சந்திரபுத்திரனான அந்த புத்தன், ஸ்வாஹாவின் பிள்ளைகளில் இளையவன் (கடைசிப் பிறந்தவன்) என்றும் நினைக்கப்படுகிறான்.

Word by Word

• स्वाहा: of Svāhā
• स्वाहा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-भाव)

• अनन्तरजः: born after (Svāhā)
• अनन्तरजः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तर + ज (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वाहायाः अनन्तरः) + 'ज' (उत्पन्न) = 'born after'

• ज्ञेयः: to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive) 'to be known'

• ज्ञानात्मा: one whose nature is knowledge
• ज्ञानात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'ज्ञानः आत्मा यस्य/ज्ञानरूप आत्मा'

• बुधनामकः: named Budha
• बुधनामकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुध + नामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बुध-नाम) + क प्रत्यय: 'named Budha'

• बुधः: Budha
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• चन्द्रपुत्रः: son of the Moon
• चन्द्रपुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रस्य पुत्रः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• स्वाहायाः: of Svāhā
• स्वाहायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अधमः: the lowest/last
• अधमः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्मृतः: is considered/said to be
• स्मृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त; √स्मृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) 'remembered/considered'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Budha as ‘jñānātmā’—the graha-deity embodying discriminative knowledge/intellect, yet situated within a specific lineage and order.

Vedantic Theme: Buddhi as an instrument of knowledge within prakṛti’s ordering; naming/lineage as upādhi while ‘knowledge-nature’ points to the function of intellect.

Application: Cultivate buddhi: study, discernment, truthful speech, and measured decision-making; recognize that even ‘knowledge’ operates within cosmic order and humility (youngest/last-born).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.5 (tattva/graha genealogical sequence continuing through 3.5.55–58)

Characters & Entities

• Svāhā
• Budha (Mercury)
• Candra (Moon)

FAQs

What is the importance of Budha (Mercury) in Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies Budha as a knowledge-natured being (jñānātmā) and situates him within Purāṇic genealogy, helping readers understand planetary deities as part of a sacred cosmic order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by mapping divine/planetary lineages, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader worldview in which cosmic forces (including grahas) operate within dharma and influence embodied life, which in turn shapes karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to cultivate buddhi (discernment) and jñāna (knowledge) in daily conduct—ethical choices and clarity of mind are presented as spiritually significant within the Purāṇic framework.