Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

चन्द्रः श्रोत्राभिमानीति तथा ज्ञेयः खगेश्वर / जिह्वेन्द्रियात्मा वरुणः सूर्यस्यानन्तरोभवत्

Transliteration

candraḥ śrotrābhimānīti tathā jñeyaḥ khageśvara / jihvendriyātmā varuṇaḥ sūryasyānantarobhavat

Translation

ఓ ఖగేశ్వరా! చంద్రుడు శ్రోత్రేంద్రియానికి అధిష్ఠాత అని తెలుసుకో. సూర్యుని తరువాత జిహ్వేంద్రియాంతర్యామిగా వరుణుడు అవతరించాడు.

Word by Word

• चन्द्रः: the Moon
• चन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रोत्र-अभिमानी: presider over the ear (hearing)
• श्रोत्र-अभिमानी: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Predicate nominative of ‘चन्द्रः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: श्रोत्रस्य अभिमानी = presiding deity of hearing

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-उद्धरण/निगमन (quotative particle)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (likewise)

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: विधेयकृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is to be known’

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: खगानाम् ईश्वरः

• जिह्वा-इन्द्रिय-आत्मा: presiding principle of the tongue-sense
• जिह्वा-इन्द्रिय-आत्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘वरुणः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा + इन्द्रिय + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: जिह्वेन्द्रियस्य आत्मा = the presiding self/deity of the tongue-sense

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूर्यस्य: of the Sun
• सूर्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अनन्तरः: next/after
• अनन्तरः: Kāla-viśeṣaṇa (कालविशेषण/temporal qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सूर्यस्य’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धे ‘next/after’

• अभवत्: became/arose
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriyas operate under adhidaiva regulators; knowing these correspondences supports dis-identification from sensory impulses.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumentality of senses (karaṇa) versus the witnessing Self; layered causality (devatā–indriya–jīva).

Application: Practice mindful listening and mindful eating: treat hearing and taste as sacred channels; reduce overindulgence by remembering their cosmic stewardship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.5.xx continuation: sequential listing of indriya-abhimānī devatās

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Varuna
• Surya
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of presiding deities of the senses in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that each sense operates under a cosmic governor (abhimānī-devatā), linking the individual’s subtle functioning to divine order and accountability.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and subtle body teachings?

By identifying deities connected to the senses (hearing and taste), the text frames perception as part of the subtle apparatus that continues to function beyond gross bodily identity, under higher regulation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and purity in what you listen to and consume; treating the senses as sacred helps cultivate discipline (dama) and clarity in spiritual life.