Shloka 3

Vāyu-Jaya and the Omens of Nāḍī Flow

Elemental and Fortnightly Indicators

महेन्द्रो मध्यसंस्थस्तु शुक्लपक्षे तु वामगः / कृष्णपक्षे दक्षिणग उदयस्य त्र्यहन्त्र्यहम्

mahendro madhyasaṃsthastu śuklapakṣe tu vāmagaḥ / kṛṣṇapakṣe dakṣiṇaga udayasya tryahantryaham

മഹേന്ദ്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു. ശുക്ലപക്ഷത്തിൽ ഇടത്തേക്ക്, കൃഷ്ണപക്ഷത്തിൽ വലത്തേക്ക്—സൂര്യോദയത്തിൽ മൂന്നു ദിവസത്തേക്ക് ദിനംപ്രതി ഗതി മാറ്റുന്നു.

महेन्द्रःMahendra (great Indra)
महेन्द्रः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमहा + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक); समास
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—'महान् इन्द्रः'
मध्यसंस्थःsituated in the middle
मध्यसंस्थः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमध्य + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक); समास
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'मध्ये संस्थः'
तुindeed/but
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विशेष/विरोध-प्रदर्शक (particle)
शुक्लपक्षेin the bright fortnight
शुक्लपक्षे:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootशुक्ल + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक); समास
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; 'शुक्लः पक्षः' (कर्मधारय-सम्भव), प्रयोगे तत्पुरुषवत्
तुthen/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विशेष-प्रदर्शक
वामगःmoving to the left
वामगः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootवाम + ग (प्रातिपदिक); समास
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'वामं गच्छति' इति
कृष्णपक्षेin the dark fortnight
कृष्णपक्षे:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्ण + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक); समास
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन
दक्षिणगःmoving to the right
दक्षिणगः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदक्षिण + ग (प्रातिपदिक); समास
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'दक्षिणं गच्छति'
उदयस्यof the rising (udaya)
उदयस्य:
Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootउदय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
त्र्यहन्three days
त्र्यहन्:
Karma/Adverbial measure (Measure/परिमाण)
TypeNoun
Rootत्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक); समास
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु—'त्रीणि अहानि' = three days
त्र्यहम्for three days / every three days
त्र्यहम्:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootत्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक); समास
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास; कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Concept: Auspicious timing depends on lunar fortnight dynamics: Mahendra’s positional shift left/right across śukla/kṛṣṇa pakṣa with a three-day sunrise modulation.

Vedantic Theme: Time (kāla) as a manifestation of cosmic intelligence; aligning action with cycles reduces friction (vighna) and supports dharmic efficacy.

Application: For muhūrta/observance planning, track pakṣa (bright/dark fortnight) and note transitional three-day windows at sunrise as sensitive for directional/ritual adjustments.

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: saṅkrānti and muhūrta indicators (general); Garuda Purana: deva-based directional auspiciousness (general)

M
Mahendra (Indra)

FAQs

This verse links the two lunar fortnights with directional/positional movement, implying that ritual timing and sacred calculations depend on whether it is the bright or dark half of the month.

Indirectly, it frames the Purana’s broader afterlife teaching within precise cosmic time (sunrise, day-by-day reckoning), which is used when describing rites and timings connected to death rituals and the soul’s onward journey.

Use careful calendar awareness—sunrise-based day counts and the bright/dark fortnight distinction—when planning traditional observances, vrata, or śrāddha-related timings, aligning practice with classical Purāṇic timekeeping.