Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 17

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

आदौ कृत्वा धनिष्ठाञ्च एतन्नक्षत्रपञ्चकम् / रेवत्यन्तं सदा दूष्यमशुभं सर्वदा भवेत्

Transliteration

ādau kṛtvā dhaniṣṭhāñca etannakṣatrapañcakam / revatyantaṃ sadā dūṣyamaśubhaṃ sarvadā bhavet

Translation

ابتداءً من دَنيشْتَا (Dhaniṣṭhā)، فإن مجموعة المنازل القمرية الخمس هذه—المنتهية إلى رِفَتِي (Revatī)—تُعَدّ دائمًا مُدنَّسة؛ ولذا تكون على الدوام نذيرَ شؤمٍ عند الشروع في الطقوس.

Word by Word

• आदौ: at first
• आदौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (temporal/sequence adverb): 'in the beginning/first'

• कृत्वा: having done/after doing
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); 'having done'

• धनिष्ठान्: (the nakṣatra) Dhaniṣṭhā (as objects)
• धनिष्ठान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; proper noun (nakṣatra-name)

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

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• नक्षत्रपञ्चकम्: the set of five nakṣatras
• नक्षत्रपञ्चकम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (determinative): 'five (group) of nakṣatras'

• रेवती-अन्तम्: ending with Revatī
• रेवती-अन्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रेवती (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'ending with Revatī' (qualifying pañcakam)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time): 'always'

• दूष्यम्: defiling/tainted
• दूष्यम्: विधेयविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूष्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाव्य/योग्य अर्थ (fit to be defiled/inauspicious)

• अशुभम्: inauspicious
• अशुभम्: विधेयविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण

• सर्वदा: at all times
• सर्वदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb): 'at all times'

• भवेत्: would be/should be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: Avoid rites during pañcaka nakṣatra set (Dhaniṣṭhā–Revatī).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śubha-aśubha kāla (auspicious/inauspicious time) governs eligibility for rites; pañcaka is ritually दूष्य (tainted).

Vedantic Theme: Karma operates through niyati-like order; dharma includes right time (kāla) as a condition for right action.

Application: Avoid initiating saṃskāras/śrāddha/major undertakings during the pañcaka nakṣatra set; consult pañcāṅga for muhūrta-śuddhi.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.35 (pañcaka-doṣa and timing rules for rites)

Characters & Entities

• Dhaniṣṭhā
• Revatī
• Nakṣatra (lunar mansions)

FAQs

What is the importance of Nakshatra Panchaka (Dhaniṣṭhā to Revatī) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks the Dhaniṣṭhā-to-Revatī cluster as inherently “dūṣya” (tainted), indicating it should be treated as inauspicious for initiating sensitive rites such as death-related rituals and śrāddha observances.

How does this verse guide ritual timing in the context of Preta Kanda teachings?

Preta Kanda emphasizes correct observance to support the departed; here, the text warns that rites begun under this five-nakṣatra span are considered inauspicious, implying practitioners should choose alternate timings when possible.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When planning śrāddha or related rites, consult a traditional pañcāṅga and a qualified priest/astrologer to avoid the Dhaniṣṭhā–Revatī panchaka window when feasible, prioritizing calm, dharmic performance of the rite.