Shloka 16

Āryā-Chandas Lakṣaṇa; Gīti-Bheda; Vaitālīya-Vaktra; Mātrā-to-Varṇa Transition

Devanagari script

अष्टाविंशातिला गन्ता प्रथमार्धे द्वितीयके / त्रिंशदस्यां शिखा गन्ता खञ्जातद्व्यत्ययाद्भवेत्

Transliteration

aṣṭāviṃśātilā gantā prathamārdhe dvitīyake / triṃśadasyāṃ śikhā gantā khañjātadvyatyayādbhavet

Translation

Wenn am achtundzwanzigsten Mondtag jemand in der ersten Hälfte der zweiten Wache aufbricht, wird er zu einem Umherziehenden, der betteln muss. Bricht er am dreißigsten Tag auf, während die śikhā (der Scheitelzopf) gerichtet wird, kann durch eine widrige Umkehr der Umstände Lahmheit entstehen.

Word by Word

• अष्टाविंशातिला: the ‘lā’ at twenty-eight
• अष्टाविंशातिला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टाविंशति + ला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अष्टाविंशत्याः ला)

• गन्ता: is to be placed/occurs
• गन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्तृ (√गम्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि कृदन्त (तृच्) — ‘goer/one that goes’ (here: ‘occurs/placed’)

• प्रथमार्धे: in the first half
• प्रथमार्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रथमस्य अर्धे)

• द्वितीयके: in the second (position/section)
• द्वितीयके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थानविशेष)

• त्रिंशदस्याम्: at (count) thirty
• त्रिंशदस्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-शब्द

• शिखा: a crest/peak (name of a pattern)
• शिखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संज्ञा

• गन्ता: is to occur/be placed
• गन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्तृ (√गम्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृच्-कृदन्त

• खञ्जातत्: from the ‘khañja’-like extension (name/feature)
• खञ्जातत्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खञ्ज + आतत (आ-√तन्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त; तत्पुरुष-समास (खञ्जवत् आततम्)

• व्यत्ययात्: from inversion/alternation
• व्यत्ययात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यत्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संज्ञा

• भवेत्: would arise/should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Actions undertaken at inauspicious times can ripen as adverse outcomes; timing and order (anukrama) matter.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati (lawful fruition) operating through time (kāla) as an instrument of results.

Application: Avoid initiating travel at the specified tithi/prahara combinations; consult muhūrta before departures, especially on critical lunar days.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: temporal/ritual time (tithi–prahara)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.208.17 (continued enumerations of forms/timings)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of tithi-based timing in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats tithi and time-segments as spiritually consequential, warning that certain departures on specific lunar days can lead to misfortune or adverse life outcomes.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on karma and consequences?

It presents a cause–effect framework where actions performed under inauspicious conditions (a “reversal” or dvyatyaya) can manifest as hardship, aligning with the text’s wider emphasis on consequences shaping embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you follow traditional practice, avoid starting major journeys on inauspicious tithis or during unfavorable time windows, and choose a suitable muhurta to reduce anxiety and align actions with dharmic discipline.