Shloka 13

Nirūpaṇa (Nāḍī–Svara-Nirūpaṇam): Breath Currents, Omens, and Action-Timing

Devanagari script

कारयेत्क्रूर कर्माणि प्राणे पिङ्गलसंस्थिते / यात्रायां सर्वकार्येषु विषापहारणे इडा

Transliteration

kārayetkrūra karmāṇi prāṇe piṅgalasaṃsthite / yātrāyāṃ sarvakāryeṣu viṣāpahāraṇe iḍā

Translation

Wenn das Prāṇa (Lebenshauch) in Piṅgalā (nāḍī) verweilt, wird man zu harten, grausamen Handlungen getrieben. Ist es jedoch in Iḍā, so fördert es Reisen, Erfolg in allen Vorhaben und die Beseitigung von Gift.

Word by Word

• कारयेत्: should cause to be done
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• क्रूर: cruel, harsh
• क्रूर: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (कर्माणि इति विशेषण)

• कर्माणि: actions, rites
• कर्माणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्राणे: in the breath/at prāṇa
• प्राणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पिङ्गलसंस्थिते: situated in piṅgalā
• पिङ्गलसंस्थिते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गला + संस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त) ← स्था (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (प्राणे इति विशेषण); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (situated in piṅgalā)

• यात्रायाम्: in a journey
• यात्रायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सर्वकार्येषु: in all undertakings
• सर्वकार्येषु: Adhikarana (Scope/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (all + tasks)

• विषापहारणे: in removing poison
• विषापहारणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष + अपहारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (in the removal of poison)

• इडा: iḍā (nāḍī)
• इडा: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāṇa in piṅgalā inclines toward krūra-karman (harsh acts); prāṇa in iḍā supports travel, success in tasks, and removal of poison.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-like modulation of mind through prāṇa; agency conditioned by subtle forces within embodiment.

Application: Before travel or important work, stabilize into iḍā-dominance via calming breath (e.g., gentle left-nostril breathing) and avoid initiating aggressive actions when piṅgalā is dominant.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: subtle-body (piṅgalā/iḍā nāḍī; prāṇa stationing)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.67.12 (iḍā as cooling/lunar); Garuda Purana 1.67.14 (piṅgalā success in eating/sex/battle and fierce rites)

Characters & Entities

• Prāṇa
• Iḍā
• Piṅgalā

FAQs

What is the importance of Iḍā and Piṅgalā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links moral/behavioral tendencies and practical outcomes to prāṇa moving through the nāḍīs: Piṅgalā is associated with harsh, forceful impulses, while Iḍā is associated with supportive, stabilizing effects like successful travel and antidotal influence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing post-death travel directly, it explains the subtle-body mechanics (prāṇa and nāḍīs) that condition a person’s actions and capacities—factors that, in Garuda Purana’s broader karmic framework, shape one’s destiny and experiences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a self-check: if feeling unusually aggressive or driven toward harsh speech/actions, pause and regulate breath and mind; for steadiness during travel or stressful tasks, cultivate calm, cooling breath practices aligned with Iḍā-oriented balance.