Shloka 3

Devanagari script

पुनर्वसुस्तथादित्यस्तिष्यश्च गुरुदैवतः / अश्लेषाः सर्पदेवत्या मघाश्च पितृदेवताः

Transliteration

punarvasustathādityastiṣyaśca gurudaivataḥ / aśleṣāḥ sarpadevatyā maghāśca pitṛdevatāḥ

Translation

പുനർവസുവിന്റെ ദേവത അദിതി; തിഷ്യ (പുഷ്യ)യുടെ അധിദേവത ഗുരു (ബൃഹസ്പതി). ആശ്ലേഷയ്ക്ക് സർപ്പദേവതകൾ; മഘയ്ക്ക് പിതൃദേവതകൾ.

Word by Word

• पुनर्वसुः: Punarvasu (asterism)
• पुनर्वसुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुनर्वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (नक्षत्र-नाम)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb)

• अदित्यः: Āditya (Sun-related)
• अदित्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदिति/अदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (नक्षत्र-नाम/देवता-सूचक)

• तिष्यः: Tiṣya (Puṣya)
• तिष्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (नक्षत्र-नाम)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गुरु: Guru (Jupiter)
• गुरु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• दैवतः: having Guru as deity
• दैवतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु-दैवत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; देवता-सम्बन्धि विशेषणम्

• अश्लेषाः: Aśleṣās (asterism)
• अश्लेषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्लेषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन (नक्षत्र-नाम)

• सर्प: serpent
• सर्प: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• देवत्याः: having serpents as deity
• देवत्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्प-देवत्या (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; देवता-सम्बन्धि विशेषणम्

• मघाः: Maghās (asterism)
• मघाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मघा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन (नक्षत्र-नाम)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पितृ: ancestors, Pitṛs
• पितृ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• देवताः: having the Pitṛs as deity
• देवताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ-देवता (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; देवता-सम्बन्धि विशेषणम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time is sacralized through deity-governed nakṣatras; ancestral powers (Pitṛs) are integrated into cosmic administration.

Vedantic Theme: Interconnected order (ṛta) where ritual obligations align with cosmic structures; devatā as channels under the supreme

Application: When planning auspicious acts, consider nakṣatra qualities; cultivate pitṛ-tarpaṇa attitude—gratitude and responsibility to lineage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sphere/asterismal belt

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha-focused sections (general linkage via Pitṛ-devatā mention); Garuda Purana 1.59.2, 1.59.4 (same nakṣatra list continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Aditi
• Bṛhaspati (Guru)
• Sarpa-devas (Nāgas)
• Pitṛs
• Punarvasu
• Tiṣya (Puṣya)
• Āśleṣā
• Maghā

FAQs

What is the importance of nakṣatra deities in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse assigns presiding deities to specific nakṣatras, indicating that ritual timing and devotional focus can be aligned with the deity connected to the day’s lunar mansion.

How does this verse relate to Pitṛ-kārya (ancestral rites)?

By stating that Maghā is ruled by the Pitṛs, it supports the practice of performing tarpaṇa, śrāddha, and other Pitṛ-related observances when Maghā is prominent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use nakṣatra-devatā associations for choosing auspicious timings (muhūrta) and for tailoring prayers—e.g., Pitṛ offerings during Maghā, Guru-related worship during Puṣya, and Nāga-related propitiation during Āśleṣā.