Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वमुख्यान्युच्छ्रितानि सर्वाण्येतेषु कारयेत् / चतुर्थो चाशुभा षष्ठी अष्टमी नवमी तथा

Transliteration

ūrdhvamukhyānyucchritāni sarvāṇyeteṣu kārayet / caturtho cāśubhā ṣaṣṭhī aṣṭamī navamī tathā

Translation

En ces occasions prescrites, que tous les éléments du rite soient élevés et tournés vers le haut. Le quatrième jour est aussi néfaste, de même le sixième, le huitième et le neuvième.

Word by Word

• ūrdhva-mukhyāni: having upward-facing (tops)
• ūrdhva-mukhyāni: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• ucchritāni: raised, elevated
• ucchritāni: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√śri (धातु) → ucchrita (कृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• sarvāṇi: all
• sarvāṇi: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective)

• eteṣu: among these / in these
• eteṣu: Adhikarana (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• kārayet: should cause (to be done)
• kārayet: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• caturthaḥ: the fourth (day)
• caturthaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

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

• aśubhā: inauspicious
• aśubhā: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ṣaṣṭhī: the sixth (day)
• ṣaṣṭhī: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• aṣṭamī: the eighth (day)
• aṣṭamī: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• navamī: the ninth (day)
• navamī: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: navamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• tathā: likewise, also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise/also)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Tithi-selection guidance; avoidance of 4th/6th/8th/9th for intended auspicious rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla-niyama and śubha-aśubha discrimination in rites; avoiding certain tithis for efficacy and purity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier (citta-śuddhi) when aligned with dharma and proper time.

Application: When planning śrāddha/daiva-kārya or saṃskāra-related acts, choose tithis carefully; avoid 4th/6th/8th/9th for intended auspicious outcomes; keep ritual items properly oriented (ūrdhva-mukha).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (griha/vedi/shraddha-sthala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59.26-29 (tithi-graha sambandha and śubhatva)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding inauspicious tithis in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks specific days (4th, 6th, 8th, 9th) as aśubha, indicating that timing (tithi) is part of dharmic correctness in rites connected to death/ancestral observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct ritual timing and method, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that proper rites aid the departed and maintain order (dharma) around transition and after-death obligations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When planning śrāddha or related rites, consult a competent paṇḍit/pāñcāṅga to avoid traditionally inauspicious tithis and to perform the prescribed arrangements in a disciplined manner.