Shloka 23

Graha-daśā, Rāśi-adhipatya, Śakuna (Omens), and Nakṣatra-Lakṣaṇa on the Solar Diagram

Devanagari script

स्कन्धस्थिते धनपतिर्मुखे मिष्टान्नमाप्नुयात् / मस्तके पदृवस्त्रं स्यान्नक्षत्रं यदि स्थितम्

Transliteration

skandhasthite dhanapatirmukhe miṣṭānnamāpnuyāt / mastake padṛvastraṃ syānnakṣatraṃ yadi sthitam

Translation

നക്ഷത്രം തോളിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുകയാണെങ്കിൽ ധനസമൃദ്ധി ലഭിക്കും; വായിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുകയാണെങ്കിൽ മധുരാന്നം ലഭിക്കും. തലയിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുകയാണെങ്കിൽ വസ്ത്രലാഭം ഉണ്ടാകും.

Word by Word

• स्कन्धस्थिते: when situated on the shoulder
• स्कन्धस्थिते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—स्कन्धे स्थितः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• धनपतिः: lord of wealth
• धनपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मुखे: in the mouth/face
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मिष्टान्नम्: sweet food
• मिष्टान्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—मिष्टम् अन्नम्

• आप्नुयात्: would obtain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मस्तके: on the head
• मस्तके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पदृवस्त्रम्: a (particular) cloth/garment (padṛ-cloth)
• पदृवस्त्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदृ (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—पदृ-सम्बद्धं वस्त्रम् (निर्दिष्ट-तत्पुरुष)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नक्षत्रम्: constellation
• नक्षत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तसूचक-समुच्चय (conditional particle)

• स्थितम्: situated
• स्थितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious marks correlate with material fruits (artha and comfort) such as wealth, food, and clothing.

Vedantic Theme: Worldly fruits (bhoga) arise from karma; they are transient and should be held with moderation.

Application: Receive prosperity with gratitude and restraint; use gains for dharmic giving and support of dependents.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.60 (nakṣatra/lakṣaṇa prognostics)

FAQs

What is the importance of nakṣatra-phala in the Garuda Purana?

This verse illustrates how nakṣatra placement is used to infer practical outcomes (wealth, food, clothing), reflecting a predictive/phala-oriented strand within the text.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly address the post-death journey; instead, it gives worldly result-indications (phala) connected with nakṣatra positioning.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional reference for nakṣatra-based phala readings, while prioritizing dharma and disciplined living over purely predictive concerns.