Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

गमनागमने चैव वामा सर्वत्र पूजिता / युद्धादिभोजने घाते स्त्रीणां चैव तु संगमे

Transliteration

gamanāgamane caiva vāmā sarvatra pūjitā / yuddhādibhojane ghāte strīṇāṃ caiva tu saṃgame

Translation

Dalam pergi dan kembali juga, sisi kiri dihormati di mana-mana; demikian pula dalam peperangan dan dalam makan, dalam memukul (atau membunuh), dan juga dalam persatuan dengan wanita.

Word by Word

• गमनागमने: in going and returning
• गमनागमने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक) + आगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण; द्वन्द्वसमास (going and coming)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• वामा: Vāmā (left channel/left)
• वामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता/विषय (topic)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana (Adverbial locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पूजिता: is honored/worshipped
• पूजिता: Karta/Predicate (Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• युद्धादिभोजने: in eating connected with battle etc.
• युद्धादिभोजने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण; समासः ‘युद्ध-आदि’ + ‘भोजन’

• घाते: in killing/striking
• घाते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• संगमे: in union/meeting
• संगमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Action (karma) gains efficacy when aligned with prescribed bodily/energetic orientation (vāmā) across life activities.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumentality of the body-mind in karma: using the ‘field’ (kṣetra) skillfully while remaining aware.

Application: Observe left/right bodily cues (breath dominance, comfort, readiness) and follow consistent auspicious protocols in travel, conflict, meals, and intimacy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.67.15-17, 1.67.19 (left/right nāḍī and outcomes)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'left side' (vāma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the left side is treated as honored/auspicious in several practical contexts—movement (going/returning), combat, eating, acts of striking, and sexual union—indicating a rule of ritual-social etiquette rather than a purely symbolic idea.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It does not directly describe the after-death journey; instead, it gives dharmic guidance for embodied life (proper conduct and auspicious protocol), which in Garuda Purana’s broader framework supports good karma and orderly living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a traditional etiquette rule: be mindful of culturally prescribed auspicious conventions in travel, dining, conflict, and marital life, and prioritize restraint and dharmic conduct in all these actions.