Shloka 61

Manvantara Catalog: Fourteen Manus, Their Sons, Saptarishis, Indras, Deva-Hosts, and the 18 Vidyās

Devanagari script

चाक्षुषाः कर्मनिष्ठाश्च पवित्रा भ्राजिनस्तथा / वचोवृद्धा देवगणाः पञ्च प्रोक्तास्तु सप्तकाः

Transliteration

cākṣuṣāḥ karmaniṣṭhāśca pavitrā bhrājinastathā / vacovṛddhā devagaṇāḥ pañca proktāstu saptakāḥ

Translation

చాక్షుష, కర్మనిష్ఠ, పవిత్ర, భ్రాజిన మరియు వచోవృద్ధ—ఇవి ఐదు దేవగణములని చెప్పబడినవి; వాటిలో ప్రతి గణము ఏడు మందితో కూడినది।

Word by Word

• चाक्षुषाः: the Cākṣuṣas (a class/name)
• चाक्षुषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाक्षुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कर्मनिष्ठाः: steadfast in action
• कर्मनिष्ठाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्म + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पवित्राः: pure
• पवित्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• भ्राजिनः: the Bhrajins (a class/name)
• भ्राजिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्राजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise/also)

• वचोवृद्धाः: advanced in speech/eloquence
• वचोवृद्धाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वचस् + वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• देवगणाः: groups of gods
• देवगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्यावाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• प्रोक्ताः: said/declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थ (particle: but/indeed)

• सप्तकाः: sets of seven (septads)
• सप्तकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic hierarchy: devagaṇas are structured into named groups, each a septad.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s orderly manifestation (vyavasthā) within sṛṣṭi; knowledge as seeing pattern and classification in the cosmos.

Application: Use scriptural taxonomy to orient ritual/recitation and to cultivate reverence for cosmic order rather than confusion about divine agencies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.87 (context: manvantara/cosmic administration lists)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Cākṣuṣas
• Karmaniṣṭhas
• Pavitras
• Bhrājinas
• Vacovṛddhas

FAQs

What is the importance of these deva-gaṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional cosmological classification of divine hosts, indicating that devas are organized into specific gaṇas (orders), each with a fixed numerical structure (seven).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by mapping the ordered hierarchy of divine beings, it situates the universe as rule-governed—supporting the Purana’s broader teaching that karma and cosmic law operate through structured agencies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of discipline in action (karmaniṣṭhā) and purity (pavitra): align speech, conduct, and ritual intent with dharma, since the tradition frames the cosmos as morally and ritually ordered.