Shloka 16

Devanagari script

नैरृत्य शोकसन्तापौ मिष्टान्नं चैव पश्चिमे / अर्थ प्राप्नोति वायव्ये उत्तरे कलहोभवेत्

Transliteration

nairṛtya śokasantāpau miṣṭānnaṃ caiva paścime / artha prāpnoti vāyavye uttare kalahobhavet

Translation

നൈഋത്യ (തെക്ക്‑പടിഞ്ഞാറ്) ദിശയിൽ ശോകവും സന്താപവും ഉദ്ഭവിക്കും; പടിഞ്ഞാറ് മിഷ്ടാന്നലാഭം. വായവ്യ (വടക്ക്‑പടിഞ്ഞാറ്) ദിശയിൽ ധനപ്രാപ്തി; വടക്കിൽ കലഹം സംഭവിക്കും.

Word by Word

• नैरृत्ये: in the south-west (direction)
• नैरृत्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• शोकसन्तापौ: grief and distress
• शोकसन्तापौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + santāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (itaretara-dvandva)

• मिष्टान्नम्: sweet food
• मिष्टान्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: miṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमास

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paścima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• अर्थम्: wealth/gain
• अर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• प्राप्नोति: attains/obtains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वायव्ये: in the north-west
• वायव्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• कलहः: quarrel
• कलहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• भवेत्: may occur/would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Directional omens indicate likely fruits (phala) of events; prudent action follows reading of signs.

Vedantic Theme: Prarabdha expressed through nimitta; discernment (viveka) in navigating worldly outcomes.

Application: When interpreting omens (in travel, dwelling, or rites), note directionality and respond with restraint, charity, or postponement if inauspicious.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: directional space (vastu/dik)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.60 (nimitta/dik-phala context)

FAQs

What is the importance of direction-based results (dik-phala) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns specific outcomes to particular directions, indicating how spatial orientation is used to interpret omens and likely results in daily life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey here; instead, it gives a practical mapping of directions to worldly outcomes like grief, food, wealth, and conflict.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional guideline: avoid activities linked with the south-west if seeking peace, favor the north-west for financial efforts, and be cautious of disputes associated with the north.