Shloka 12

Prāṇeśvara Garuḍa-Mantra: Timing (Velā), Nāga-Grahas, Nyāsa, Haṃsa-Rite, and Viṣa-Cikitsā

Devanagari script

तिष्ठच्चन्द्रश्च जीवेच्च पुंसो दक्षिणभागके / कायस्य वामभागे तु स्त्रिया वायुवहात्करात्

Transliteration

tiṣṭhaccandraśca jīvecca puṃso dakṣiṇabhāgake / kāyasya vāmabhāge tu striyā vāyuvahātkarāt

Translation

Beim Mann verweilt der Mond, und der Lebenshauch setzt sich in der rechten Körperhälfte fort; bei der Frau jedoch ist er in der linken Körperhälfte—so wird gesagt—durch das Wirken des lebensführenden Windes (Vāyu).

Word by Word

• तिष्ठत्: standing
• तिष्ठत्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → तिष्ठत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ); प्रथमा एकवचन (पुंलिङ्ग) — 'standing'

• चन्द्रः: the moon
• चन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय/conjunction

• जीवेत्: should live
• जीवेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय/conjunction

• पुंसः: of a man
• पुंसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive singular)

• दक्षिणभागके: in the right side/portion
• दक्षिणभागके: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण + भागक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (दक्षिणः भागकः)

• कायस्य: of the body
• कायस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन

• वामभागे: in the left side
• वामभागे: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय (वामः भागः)

• तु: but, however
• तु: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक अव्यय (particle)

• स्त्रियाः: of a woman
• स्त्रियाः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी/पञ्चमी एकवचन (here genitive: of a woman)

• वायुवहात्: from the wind-carrier (breath)
• वायुवहात्: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु + वह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (वायोः वहः = wind-carrier)

• करात्: from the hand
• करात्: Apādāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lateralization of the lunar/prāṇic abiding: right side in men, left side in women, attributed to vāyu’s carrying action.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-prakṛti operations within the body; Self remains unaffected witness.

Application: In breath practice, observe dominant nostril/side tendencies; cultivate balance (e.g., gentle nāḍī-śodhana) without rigid essentialism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.19.11 (ordered ascent through loci); Garuda Purana 1.19.13 (Haṃsa-bīja, purity of Self-seed)

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of Chandra (Moon) and Vayu in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse links life-continuity to subtle principles: Chandra as a regulating lunar principle and Vayu as the carrier of prāṇa, indicating how vitality is understood to reside and operate within the body.

How does this verse explain differences between male and female bodily sides in relation to prāṇa?

It states a traditional mapping: for men, vitality is associated with the right side; for women, with the left—attributed to the functioning of the life-bearing vāyu (prāṇa’s movement).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative teaching on prāṇa-awareness—supporting breath discipline, calm living, and mindful preparation for end-of-life rites rather than as a standalone medical rule.