Shloka 11

Devanagari script

प्रशस्ता चोत्तर यात्रा धनिष्ठादिषु सप्तसु / अश्विनी रेवती चित्रा धनिष्ठा समलङ्कृतौ

Transliteration

praśastā cottara yātrā dhaniṣṭhādiṣu saptasu / aśvinī revatī citrā dhaniṣṭhā samalaṅkṛtau

Translation

Die Reise nach Norden gilt als glückverheißend, wenn man sie während sieben Nakṣatras beginnt, die mit Dhaniṣṭhā einsetzen; darunter werden Aśvinī, Revatī, Citrā und Dhaniṣṭhā als besonders günstig verehrt.

Word by Word

• प्रशस्ता: auspicious
• प्रशस्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शंस् धातोः क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् ‘praised/auspicious’

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

• उत्तर: northern
• उत्तर: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे (यात्रा-विशेषणम्), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘northern’

• यात्रा: journey/travel
• यात्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• धनिष्ठादिषु: among Dhanishṭhā etc.
• धनिष्ठादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः—धनिष्ठा-आदिषु (तत्पुरुष: ‘in Dhanishṭhā and others’)

• सप्तसु: in the seven
• सप्तसु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सप्तन्-शब्दः) सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; ‘in the seven (of them)’

• अश्विनी: Aśvinī (nakṣatra)
• अश्विनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• रेवती: Revatī (nakṣatra)
• रेवती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• चित्रा: Citrā (nakṣatra)
• चित्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• धनिष्ठा: Dhaniṣṭhā (nakṣatra)
• धनिष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• समलङ्कृतौ: well-adorned (two)
• समलङ्कृतौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अलङ्कृ (धातु) (क्त/क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्; पाठानुसारं ‘समलङ्कृतौ’ = ‘well-adorned (two)’ (द्विवचन-रूपम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya, per the common dialogue frame of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspiciousness (śubhatā) in action arises from alignment with time-signs; disciplined observance supports success and safety.

Vedantic Theme: Living in accord with ṛta; cultivating sattva through orderly conduct.

Application: Choose northward travel/initiations during the indicated nakṣatra set; use the rule-set as a checklist before departures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: directional/travel context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.61.10 (directional rules); Garuda Purana 1.61.12 (auspicious nakṣatras for rites)

Characters & Entities

• Nakshatras (Aśvinī, Revatī, Citrā, Dhaniṣṭhā)

FAQs

What is the importance of choosing nakṣatras for travel in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats timing (muhūrta) as part of dharma, stating that a northward journey becomes especially auspicious when begun under specified nakṣatras.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death path here; instead, it gives a dharma guideline on auspicious timing, reflecting the Purana’s broader concern with right conduct and correct observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you follow traditional muhūrta practice, plan important northward travel or pilgrimage during the recommended nakṣatra windows; otherwise, take it as a reminder to act with deliberation and respect for sacred timing.