Shloka 12

Candra-sthiti, Dvādaśa-avasthā, Nakṣatra-śubha-aśubha, Yātrā-dik, and Graha-bhāva-phala

Devanagari script

मृगाश्विचित्रापुष्याश्च मूला हस्ता शुभाः सदा / कन्याप्रदाने यात्रायां प्रतिष्ठादिषु कर्मसु

Transliteration

mṛgāśvicitrāpuṣyāśca mūlā hastā śubhāḥ sadā / kanyāpradāne yātrāyāṃ pratiṣṭhādiṣu karmasu

Translation

മൃഗശീർഷം, അശ്വിനി, ചിത്ര, പുഷ്യ, മൂല, ഹസ്ത—ഇവ എപ്പോഴും മംഗളകരം; പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് കന്യാദാനം, യാത്രാപ്രസ്ഥാനം, പ്രതിഷ്ഠാദി കർമ്മങ്ങളിൽ।

Word by Word

• मृगाश्विचित्रापुष्याः: Mṛgaśīrṣa, Aśvinī, Citrā, and Puṣya
• मृगाश्विचित्रापुष्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्विनी (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (समाहार/इतरेतर) — ‘Mṛga(śīrṣa), Aśvinī, Citrā, Puṣya’ (nakṣatras)

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

• मूला: Mūlā (nakṣatra)
• मूला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• हस्ता: Hastā (nakṣatra)
• हस्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शुभाः: auspicious
• शुभाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; (नक्षत्राणां विशेषणम्)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कन्याप्रदाने: in the giving of a maiden (marriage)
• कन्याप्रदाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—कन्यायाः प्रदानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘in giving a maiden (marriage)’

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

• प्रतिष्ठादिषु: in establishment and similar rites
• प्रतिष्ठादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः—प्रतिष्ठा-आदिषु (तत्पुरुष) ‘in establishment etc.’

• कर्मसु: in actions/rituals
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṃskāras and major undertakings should be performed at auspicious times to support harmony, prosperity, and right order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as harmonization of individual life-stages with cosmic order (ṛta); sattvic structuring of life events.

Application: Select these nakṣatras for marriage arrangements, departures, and consecrations; combine timing with ethical conduct and proper ritual procedure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/household and temple context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.61.10-11 (directional and travel auspiciousness)

Characters & Entities

• Nakshatras

FAQs

What is the importance of Nakshatra selection in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats specific Nakshatras as consistently auspicious for key saṃskāras and public rites, showing that timing (muhūrta) is considered a dharmic support for successful outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it focuses on dharmic timing for life-rituals (marriage, travel, consecration), which the Purana frames as supportive of order and merit (puṇya).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you follow traditional muhūrta practice, prefer these Nakshatras for weddings (kanyādāna), inaugurations/pratiṣṭhā, and important travel—while also prioritizing ethical conduct and proper intention in the act.