Shloka 20

Graha-daśā, Rāśi-adhipatya, Śakuna (Omens), and Nakṣatra-Lakṣaṇa on the Solar Diagram

Devanagari script

ऋक्षमेकं न्यसेद्गुह्ये एकैकं जानुके न्यसेत् / नक्षत्राणि च शेषाणि रविपादे नियोजयेत्

Transliteration

ṛkṣamekaṃ nyasedguhye ekaikaṃ jānuke nyaset / nakṣatrāṇi ca śeṣāṇi ravipāde niyojayet

Translation

يُوضَع رِكشا (ṛkṣa) واحدٌ في الموضع السِّرّي (منطقة العورة)؛ ثم تُوضَع واحدًا فواحدًا على الركبتين. وأمّا سائر النكشترَات (nakṣatra) فتُسند إلى قدم الشمس.

Word by Word

• ऋक्षम्: a lunar mansion/asterism
• ऋक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (of ऋक्षम्)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni- (उपसर्ग) + √as/√nyas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• गुह्ये: in the groin/secret part
• गुह्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the secret part/groin)

• एकैकम्: one each
• एकैकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; वितरणार्थ

• जानुके: at the knee
• जानुके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (at the knee)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni- (उपसर्ग) + √as/√nyas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नक्षत्राणि: stars/nakshatras
• नक्षत्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; कर्म (remaining items)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• शेषाणि: remaining
• शेषाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of नक्षत्राणि: remaining)

• रविपादे: on the Sun’s foot
• रविपादे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘sun’s foot’); अधिकरण

• नियोजयेत्: should arrange/assign
• नियोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni- (उपसर्ग) + √yuj (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘should assign/place’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Total consecration through comprehensive mapping: even hidden/liminal regions are included, indicating nothing is outside sacred order.

Vedantic Theme: All parts of embodied existence can be brought under sādhana through disciplined ritual; integration rather than exclusion.

Application: In practice, do not neglect 'hidden' aspects (private conduct, integrity); completeness in method yields steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: microcosmic anatomy + deity-body mapping

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.60.18-19 (preceding placements)

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Sun)
• Nakshatras (lunar mansions)

FAQs

What is the importance of nakshatra placement in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows a ritual-cosmological mapping where nakṣatras are assigned to specific body regions, used to internalize cosmic order during nyāsa/visualization-based rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by linking the body to cosmic forces (Sun and nakṣatras), it frames the individual as a microcosm, a common Garuda Purana approach for understanding subtle-body order and post-death ritual efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative reminder of discipline and alignment—seeing one’s embodied life as connected to cosmic rhythm—especially when performing traditional japa, nyāsa, or daily sandhyā practices.