Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

रात्रौ दिवा सुरगुरोर्भागे स्यादमरान्तकः / पङ्गोः काले दिवा राहुः कुलिकेन सह स्थितः

Transliteration

rātrau divā suragurorbhāge syādamarāntakaḥ / paṅgoḥ kāle divā rāhuḥ kulikena saha sthitaḥ

Translation

By night and by day, in the portion belonging to the Deva-Guru (Bṛhaspati), Amarāntaka is present; and at the time of Paṅgu, by day, Rāhu is stationed together with Kulika.

Word by Word

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दिवा: by day; in daytime
• दिवा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक/time adverb)

• सुरगुरोः: of the guru of the gods (Jupiter)
• सुरगुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुराणां गुरुः)

• भागे: in the portion/part
• भागे: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्यात्: may be; would be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अमरान्तकः: Amarāntaka (name)
• अमरान्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अमराणाम् अन्तकः)

• पङ्गोः: of Paṅgu (name)
• पङ्गोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक/time adverb)

• राहुः: Rāhu
• राहुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुलिकेन: with Kulika
• कुलिकेन: Sahakāraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सह/association particle; governs instrumental)

• स्थितः: situated; stationed
• स्थितः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (राहुः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time is partitioned into governed portions; knowing placements supports right timing and avoidance of harm.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla-vibhāga as an instrument of dharma; orderliness of the cosmos mirrors the discipline expected in life.

Application: Use knowledge of graha portions for scheduling rites, travel, vows; exercise caution in Rāhu-associated periods (confusion, obscuration).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.19.7 (Kulika, Rāhu among nāga-grahas); Garuda Purana 1.19.9 (junction velā observance)

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhaspati (Suraguru)
• Amarāntaka
• Rāhu
• Kulika
• Paṅgu

FAQs

What is the importance of mentioning Rāhu and Suraguru (Bṛhaspati) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses Purāṇic time/space divisions to specify where certain forces (like Rāhu) are ‘stationed,’ reflecting the text’s cosmological mapping that underlies auspicious/inauspicious timing and ritual calculations.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on the soul’s journey?

While not describing the preta’s path directly, it situates the narrative within a structured cosmic order—an organizing framework the Garuda Purana repeatedly uses when explaining post-death realms, karmic results, and governance by higher powers.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that traditional Dharma texts connect ritual timing and ethical life to an ordered cosmos; in practice, follow reputable pañcāṅga guidance for rites and keep conduct (ācāra) steady rather than driven by fear of omens.