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

اُدان کو رَس کی فطرت والا کہا گیا ہے اور سَمان ‘گندھ’ کے نام سے معروف ہے۔ چاروں مَروت بھی آب کے ناتھ (سردار) کہے گئے ہیں۔

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.