Shloka 21

Nakṣatra-Devatā Enumeration and Muhūrta Rules for Travel, Rites, and Yogas

Devanagari script

अनुराधा मृगो ज्येष्ठा एते पार्श्वमुखाः स्मृताः / गजोष्ट्राश्वबलीवर्ददमनं महिषस्य च

Transliteration

anurādhā mṛgo jyeṣṭhā ete pārśvamukhāḥ smṛtāḥ / gajoṣṭrāśvabalīvardadamanaṃ mahiṣasya ca

Translation

Anurādhā, Mṛga e Jyeṣṭhā são lembradas como mansões lunares “de face lateral” (pārśvamukha); e do mesmo modo (lhes compete) o domar e controlar do elefante, do camelo, do cavalo, do touro e do búfalo.

Word by Word

• अनुराधा: Anurādhā (nakṣatra)
• अनुराधा: Vishaya/Enumeration (विषय/उल्लेख)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुराधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मृगः: Mṛga (Mṛgaśīrṣa nakṣatra, abbreviated)
• मृगः: Vishaya/Enumeration (विषय/उल्लेख)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्येष्ठा: Jyeṣṭhā (nakṣatra)
• ज्येष्ठा: Vishaya/Enumeration (विषय/उल्लेख)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पार्श्वमुखाः: side-facing
• पार्श्वमुखाः: Karta-predicate (विधेय/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: पार्श्वं मुखं येषाम् (side-facing)

• स्मृताः: are said/are remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle) ‘स्मृत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense)

• गज: elephant
• गज: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• उष्ट्र: camel
• उष्ट्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• अश्व: horse
• अश्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• बलीवर्द: bull/ox
• बलीवर्द: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलीवर्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• दमनम्: taming/subduing
• दमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमन्/दमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: गज-उष्ट्र-अश्व-बलीवर्द- (of elephant/camel/horse/bull) + दमन (taming)

• महिषस्य: of the buffalo
• महिषस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain times (nakshatras) are suited for specific acts requiring restraint and mastery; dharma channels force through right timing and method.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha analog: mastery over external forces mirrors inner discipline

Application: Schedule training/handling of large animals or difficult tasks in traditionally recommended muhurta windows; emphasize humane, controlled practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/astrological setting with pastoral/royal activity implied

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59 (nakshatra classifications: pārśvamukha etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Anuradha (Nakshatra)
• Mṛga (Mṛgaśīrṣa Nakshatra)
• Jyeṣṭhā (Nakshatra)
• Elephant
• Camel
• Horse
• Bull
• Buffalo

FAQs

What is the importance of pārśvamukha (side-facing) nakshatras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists Anurādhā, Mṛga, and Jyeṣṭhā as ‘pārśvamukha’—a technical nakshatra grouping used to judge suitability/character of timings for specific actions in ritual and astrological decision-making.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This verse does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it provides technical classifications (nakshatras and action-types) that support dharmic planning of rites—often connected in the text to choosing proper times for observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reference point when consulting traditional jyotiṣa-based muhurta: recognize that some nakshatras are grouped by ‘orientation’ (like pārśvamukha) and may be considered differently for certain undertakings and ritual scheduling.