Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

तदनन्तरमुत्पन्नास्तेभ्यो नीचाः शृणु द्विज / वरुणस्य पत्नी गङ्गा पर्जन्याख्यो विभावसुः

Transliteration

tadanantaramutpannāstebhyo nīcāḥ śṛṇu dvija / varuṇasya patnī gaṅgā parjanyākhyo vibhāvasuḥ

Translation

اس کے بعد، اے دِوِج! اُن سے پیدا ہونے والی بعد کی (نیچ/متاخر) اولاد کا حال سنو۔ گنگا ورُن کی زوجہ بنیں، اور وِبھاوَسو ‘پرجنّیہ’ کے نام سے معروف ہوا۔

Word by Word

• tad-anantaram: thereafter
• tad-anantaram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial compound (अव्ययीभाव), meaning 'after that'

• utpannāḥ: born/arisen
• utpannāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√pad/√pad (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tebhyaḥ: from them
• tebhyaḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nīcāḥ: low/inferior
• nīcāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying implied beings

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• dvija: O twice-born (brahmin)
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• varuṇasya: of Varuṇa
• varuṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• patnī: wife
• patnī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• parjanya-ākhyaḥ: named Parjanya
• parjanya-ākhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parjanya (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'named Parjanya'

• vibhāvasuḥ: Vibhāvasu (Agni)
• vibhāvasuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhāvasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Interlinking of natural forces (rivers, rain, fire) with deities through relational cosmology; sacralization of nature as dharmic worldview.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat as nāma-rūpa with devatā-adhisthāna (divine presiding principles).

Application: Approach natural elements with reverence; align ritual life (snāna, offerings) with ecological respect and gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-mahātmyas and śrāddha sections where Gaṅgā is invoked for purification; Garuda Purana: cosmological lists of devatās and their śaktis/consorts

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Ganga
• Parjanya
• Vibhavasu

FAQs

What is the importance of mentioning Gaṅgā as Varuṇa’s wife in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places Gaṅgā within a divine relational framework, linking the sacred river to Varuṇa’s watery domain, reinforcing her cosmic sanctity in Purāṇic theology.

How does this verse fit into the Garuda Purana’s broader narrative?

It functions as a genealogical/cosmological listing where Lord Viṣṇu explains origins and identifications of beings, establishing names and relationships used later in ritual and doctrinal contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred waters and vows related to purity with reverence—remembering that Purāṇic tradition frames rivers like Gaṅgā as divine realities, not merely physical resources.