Shloka 24

Nirūpaṇa (Nāḍī–Svara-Nirūpaṇam): Breath Currents, Omens, and Action-Timing

Devanagari script

तदा मृत्युं विजानीयाद्योगी योगविशारदः / यत्रयत्र स्थितः पृच्छेद्वामदक्षिणसंमुखः

Transliteration

tadā mṛtyuṃ vijānīyādyogī yogaviśāradaḥ / yatrayatra sthitaḥ pṛcchedvāmadakṣiṇasaṃmukhaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ യോഗത്തിൽ പ്രാവീണ്യമുള്ള യോഗി മരണത്തിന്റെ സമീപനം തിരിച്ചറിയണം. അവൻ എവിടെയിരുന്നാലും ഇടത്-വലത് ലക്ഷണങ്ങളിലേക്കു മുഖം തിരിച്ച് നിരീക്ഷിച്ച് അന്വേഷിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विजानीयात्: should know/recognize
• विजानीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• योगी: the yogin
• योगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• योगविशारदः: skilled in yoga
• योगविशारदः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगविशारद (प्रातिपदिक; योग + विशारद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (योगे विशारदः)

• यत्रयत्र: wherever
• यत्रयत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्रयत्र (अव्यय; यत्र + यत्र)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-देशवाचक अव्यय (wherever)

• स्थितः: being situated
• स्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पृच्छेत्: should ask
• पृच्छेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वामदक्षिणसंमुखः: facing left and right (i.e., oriented toward either side)
• वामदक्षिणसंमुखः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामदक्षिणसंमुख (प्रातिपदिक; वाम + दक्षिण + संमुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (वाम + दक्षिण) + तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (संमुखः)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A yoga-skilled yogin should discern the nearness of death through attentive inquiry/observation of left-right indicators; preparedness enables a conscious transition.

Vedantic Theme: Maraṇa-smṛti and pratyakṣa of subtle signs; using disciplined awareness to meet death with steadiness (possible doorway to liberation).

Application: Maintain contemplative awareness of impermanence; cultivate practices that allow calm recognition of decline and timely spiritual/ethical preparation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: portable-ritual/yogic-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: signs of impending death and guidance for the departing person; Garuda Purana: yogic preparedness and remembrance practices at the end

FAQs

What is the importance of recognizing death-signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames death-awareness as a yogic skill: a disciplined practitioner should notice indications of impending death and thereby prepare the mind for a conscious, dharmic transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing timely recognition of death, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that one’s final awareness and preparedness influence the post-death journey and spiritual outcome.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady self-observation and readiness—live ethically, practice regular meditation, and keep one’s duties and relationships in order so that the end of life is met with clarity rather than panic.