Shloka 24

Nakṣatra-Devatā Enumeration and Muhūrta Rules for Travel, Rites, and Yogas

Devanagari script

वारुणं श्रवणं चैव नव चोर्ध्वमुखाः स्मृताः / एषु राज्याभिषेकं च पट्टबन्धं च कारयेत्

Transliteration

vāruṇaṃ śravaṇaṃ caiva nava cordhvamukhāḥ smṛtāḥ / eṣu rājyābhiṣekaṃ ca paṭṭabandhaṃ ca kārayet

Translation

تُذكَر شعيرةُ فارونا وشعيرةُ شرافَنا، وتُذكَر أيضًا تسعُ صورٍ «مُتجهةٌ إلى الأعلى» وهي مباركة. وفي هذه الأوقات ينبغي أن يُقامَ تتويجُ الملك بالمسح المقدّس (rājābhiṣeka)، وأن تُجرى كذلك شعيرةُ ربطِ التاجِ الملكي (التتويج).

Word by Word

• वारुणम्: Vāruṇa (nakṣatra; often Śatabhiṣaj)
• वारुणम्: Vishaya/Enumeration (विषय/उल्लेख)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रवणम्: Śravaṇa (nakṣatra)
• श्रवणम्: Vishaya/Enumeration (विषय/उल्लेख)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या (numeral used indeclinably here); अर्थतः ‘nine’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• ऊर्ध्वमुखाः: upward-facing
• ऊर्ध्वमुखाः: Karta-predicate (विधेय/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: ऊर्ध्वं मुखं येषाम् (upward-facing)

• स्मृताः: are said/are remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle) ‘स्मृत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense)

• एषु: in these
• एषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Generic), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राज्याभिषेकम्: coronation
• राज्याभिषेकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: राज्यस्य अभिषेकः (coronation)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• पट्टबन्धम्: binding of the royal band/diadem (investiture)
• पट्टबन्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: पट्टस्य बन्धः (binding of the diadem/turban; investiture)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कारयेत्: should cause (it) to be done
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: cause to be done)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Authority should be inaugurated through consecration performed at auspicious times; rulership is a dharmic office, not mere power.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as the sustaining principle of social order; sacralization of rājya through rite

Application: For leadership transitions, emphasize ethical legitimacy, public accountability, and ‘consecration’ through transparent, value-based ceremonies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: palace-temple ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59 (ūrdhvamukha nakshatra category; rājābhiṣeka/paṭṭabandha prescriptions)

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa
• Śravaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of rājyābhiṣeka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames royal consecration as a dharmic rite that should be performed only within specific approved (auspicious) ritual categories, emphasizing legitimacy through proper observance.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

While much of the Garuda Purana is known for afterlife instruction, it also teaches āchāra (right conduct) and ritual order; here it outlines sanctioned ritual contexts for kingship ceremonies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For modern practice, it highlights choosing appropriate auspicious timings and following a qualified tradition-guided procedure when performing major saṁskāras or public religious ceremonies.