Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

अमावास्या पूर्णिमा च तद्वादशी च चतुर्दशी / अशुक्ला प्रतिपच्छ्रेष्ठा द्वितीया चन्द्र सूनुना

Transliteration

amāvāsyā pūrṇimā ca tadvādaśī ca caturdaśī / aśuklā pratipacchreṣṭhā dvitīyā candra sūnunā

Translation

અમાવાસ્યા અને પૂર્ણિમા, તેમજ દ્વાદશી અને ચતુર્દશી—આ તિથિઓ કહેવાય છે. શુક્લપક્ષની પ્રતિપદા શ્રેષ્ઠ ગણાય છે, અને દ્વિતીયા પણ—ચંદ્રપુત્રના ઉપદેશ મુજબ.

Word by Word

• amāvāsyā: new-moon day
• amāvāsyā: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amāvāsyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• pūrṇimā: full-moon day
• pūrṇimā: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• tad-vādaśī: that (same) twelfth (tithi)
• tad-vādaśī: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + vādaśī/ dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (that + twelfth)

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

• caturdaśī: the fourteenth (tithi)
• caturdaśī: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• aśuklā: non-bright (dark fortnight)
• aśuklā: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-śukla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• pratipat-śreṣṭhā: the best (day) of pratipat
• pratipat-śreṣṭhā: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratipat (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (pratipat + best)

• dvitīyā: the second (tithi)
• dvitīyā: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvitīyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• candra-sūnunā: by/with the son of Candra (Budha)
• candra-sūnunā: Karana (Instrument/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + sūnu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/सहकारक-प्रयोग (instrumental/association)

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Amāvāsyā/pūrṇimā and select tithis (12th/14th; bright 1st/2nd) indicated as suitable/excellent depending on rite

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śubha-kāla determination: certain tithis are ritually potent/excellent; authority traced to 'Moon’s son' (Budha) indicating jyotiṣa lineage.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta/dharma) expressed through time; disciplined karma supports inner purification.

Application: Prefer amāvāsyā/pūrṇimā and select tithis (12th/14th; bright 1st/2nd) for appropriate rites/vratas as per pañcāṅga and tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: lunar-calendar (pañcāṅga) context within ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59.25 (aśubha tithi avoidance); Garuda Purana 1.59.27-29 (tithi-graha rulership and śubhatva)

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Budha

FAQs

What is the importance of these tithis in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights specific lunar days—Amāvāsyā, Pūrṇimā, Dvādaśī, Caturdaśī, and the bright fortnight’s Pratipat and Dvitīyā—as especially suitable/commended for religious observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct ritual timing (tithi), it supports dharmic practices like dāna and ancestral rites that the Garuda Purana links with welfare after death and favorable post-mortem outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Plan key observances (vrata, charity, remembrance of ancestors) on these tithis, focusing on sincerity and ethical living alongside ritual correctness.