Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

मैत्रमृक्षमनूराधा ज्येष्ठा शाक्रं प्रकीर्तितम् / तथा निरृतिदेवत्यो मूलस्तज्ज्ञैरुदाहृतः

Transliteration

maitramṛkṣamanūrādhā jyeṣṭhā śākraṃ prakīrtitam / tathā nirṛtidevatyo mūlastajjñairudāhṛtaḥ

Translation

അനൂരാധ നക്ഷത്രം മിത്രദേവന്റെ നക്ഷത്രമെന്നു കീർത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; ജ്യേഷ്ഠാ ശക്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) സംബന്ധിച്ചതെന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധം. അതുപോലെ മൂല നക്ഷത്രത്തിന് നിരൃതി ദേവത അധിദേവതയെന്നു പണ്ഡിതർ പറയുന്നു।

Word by Word

• मैत्रम्: (having) Mitra (as deity) / pertaining to Mitra
• मैत्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (मैत्र- = मित्रदेवत्य/मित्रसम्बन्धि)

• ऋक्षम्: nakṣatra/asterism
• ऋक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनूराधा: Anūrādhā (nakṣatra)
• अनूराधा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anūrādhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठा: Jyeṣṭhā (nakṣatra)
• ज्येष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyeṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शाक्रम्: (having) Indra (Śakra) (as deity)
• शाक्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śākra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (शक्रसम्बन्धि/इन्द्रदेवत्य)

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + kīrt (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• निरृतिदेवत्यः: whose deity is Nirṛti
• निरृतिदेवत्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirṛti + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निरृतेः देवता यस्याः)

• मूलः: Mūla (nakṣatra)
• मूलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तज्ज्ञैः: by those who know that (the matter)
• तज्ज्ञैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तत् जानन्ति इति)

• उदाहृतः: is stated/mentioned
• उदाहृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + ā + hṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time is not neutral: each nakshatra bears a devata-quality influencing outcomes; wise action includes propitiation and restraint where needed.

Vedantic Theme: Guna-karma interplay within Ishvara’s ordered manifestation; acceptance of both auspicious and fearsome aspects within rta.

Application: For challenging nakshatras (e.g., Mula/Nirriti), emphasize shanti, japa, dana, and cautious decision-making; for Mitra/Anuradha, cultivate friendship, agreements, and harmony.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sphere (lunar mansions)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59.1-9 (continuation of nakshatra-devata list)

Characters & Entities

• Mitra
• Anuradha
• Jyeshtha
• Shakra (Indra)
• Nirriti
• Mula

FAQs

What is the importance of nakshatra deities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns presiding deities to specific nakṣatras, showing that ritual timing and spiritual outcomes are traditionally linked to the deity governing a lunar mansion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by mapping cosmic order (nakṣatra–deity relationships), it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader view that dharma, rites, and time are structured forces influencing post-death rites and their efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When planning observances (including śrāddha or other rites), practitioners may consult nakṣatra–devatā correspondences as part of traditional jyotiṣa-based timing and intention-setting.