Shloka 12

Devanagari script

नकुलो मूषकश्चैव यात्रायां दक्षिणे शुभः / विप्रकन्या शिवा एषां शङ्खभेरीवसुन्धराः

Transliteration

nakulo mūṣakaścaiva yātrāyāṃ dakṣiṇe śubhaḥ / viprakanyā śivā eṣāṃ śaṅkhabherīvasundharāḥ

Translation

യാത്രയിൽ വലതുഭാഗത്ത് നകുലം (മംഗൂസ്)യും മൂഷകം (എലി)യും കാണുന്നത് ശുഭം. അതുപോലെ ബ്രാഹ്മണകന്ന്യ, ശംഖം, ഭേരി, വസുന്ധര (സാരവത്തായ ഭൂമി) തുടങ്ങിയ ശുഭനിമിത്തങ്ങളും മംഗളകരമെന്നു കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नकुलः: mongoose
• नकुलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मूषकः: mouse/rat
• मूषकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle)

• यात्रायाम्: in a journey
• यात्रायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: on the right (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (दिशि)

• शुभः: auspicious
• शुभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (auspicious)

• विप्रकन्या: a Brahmin girl
• विप्रकन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विप्रस्य कन्या)

• शिवा: auspicious
• शिवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• शङ्ख: conch
• शङ्ख: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (सूची)

• भेरी: kettledrum
• भेरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (सूची)

• वसुन्धराः: earth/ground (omens)
• वसुन्धराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nimitta (omens) guide prudent action; auspicious signs at departure support success and safety.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and order: outcomes unfold within a patterned cosmos; wise action aligns with favorable conditions.

Application: At departure, note supportive signs (right-side sightings, auspicious sounds/objects); if signs are adverse, pause, recollect, and re-time the start.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: roadway/path

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.60.13 (additional auspicious sights); Garuda Purana 1.60.14 (inauspicious sights)

Characters & Entities

• Nakula (mongoose)
• Mūṣaka (mouse)
• Viprakanyā (brāhmaṇa maiden)
• Śaṅkha (conch)
• Bherī (drum)
• Vasundharā (earth)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious omens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain sights and symbols—especially when appearing on the right during travel—as indicators of favorable outcomes, guiding a traveler to proceed with confidence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey here; instead, it gives dharmic guidance on auspicious signs for worldly travel, reflecting the Purana’s broader concern with right conduct and timing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to begin important tasks with attentiveness and a calm, sattvic mindset, and to treat traditional symbols (conch, sacred sounds, purity) as prompts for ethical and disciplined action.