Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

आजं भाद्रपदा पूर्वा अहिर्ब्रुध्न्यस्तथोत्तरा / पौष्णं च रेवती ऋक्षमश्वयुक्चाश्वदैवतम्

Transliteration

ājaṃ bhādrapadā pūrvā ahirbrudhnyastathottarā / pauṣṇaṃ ca revatī ṛkṣamaśvayukcāśvadaivatam

Translation

Bhādrapadā (Pūrvā) hat Aja als Gottheit; Bhādrapadā (Uttarā) hat Ahirbudhnya. Revatī steht unter Pūṣan; und Aśvayuj (Aśvinī) hat die Aśvin-Zwillingsgötter als Schutzgottheiten.

Word by Word

• आजम्: of Aja (as deity)
• आजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (अजसम्बन्धि/अजदेवत्य)

• भाद्रपदा: Bhādrapadā (nakṣatra)
• भाद्रपदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhādrapadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (समूहवाचक/जातिवाचक: भाद्रपदाः)

• पूर्वा: former (Pūrvā)
• पूर्वा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (पूर्वा)

• अहिर्ब्रुध्न्यः: Ahi-budhnya (as deity)
• अहिर्ब्रुध्न्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ahi + brudhnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अहिर्ब्रुध्न्यः = देवतानाम)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• उत्तराः: Uttarā(s) (here: Uttarabhādrapadāḥ)
• उत्तराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (नक्षत्रनाम: उत्तरभाद्रपदाः)

• पौष्णम्: of Pūṣan (as deity)
• पौष्णम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pauṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (पूषन्-सम्बन्धि/पूष्णदेवत्य)

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

• रेवती: Revatī (nakṣatra)
• रेवती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: revatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ऋक्षम्: nakṣatra/asterism
• ऋक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अश्वयुक्: Aśvayuj (Aśvinī)
• अश्वयुक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvayuj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (नक्षत्रनाम)

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

• अश्वदैवतम्: having the Aśvins (horse-twins) as deity
• अश्वदैवतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśva + daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अश्विनोः/अश्वयोः दैवतम्)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiplicity of divine functions within one cosmic system: nourishment (Pūṣan), deep cosmic support (Ahirbudhnya), beginnings/healing (Aśvins).

Vedantic Theme: Unity expressing as many (ekaṃ sat viprā bahudhā vadanti—conceptual echo): one order manifests through diverse devata roles.

Application: For travel and guidance invoke Pūṣan (Revatī); for new beginnings and health invoke Aśvins (Aśvinī); for contemplative depth and stability reflect on Ahirbudhnya (Uttarā Bhādrapadā).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sphere (lunar mansions)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59.1-9 (nakshatra-devata list conclusion segment)

Characters & Entities

• Aja
• Ahirbudhnya
• Pūṣan
• Revatī
• Aśvins
• Bhādrapadā (Pūrvā)
• Bhādrapadā (Uttarā)
• Aśvinī (Aśvayuj)

FAQs

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

This verse maps specific lunar mansions to their presiding deities, supporting deity-centered ritual timing (muhūrta) and devotional orientation when performing observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it provides a sacred cosmological framework (nakṣatra–devatā correspondences) often used to choose auspicious timings for rites, including life-cycle and śrāddha observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the nakṣatra’s presiding deity for focused prayer and sankalpa when scheduling vrata, pūjā, or ancestral rites—aligning intention with the traditional devatā associated with that lunar mansion.