Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

वस्त्रप्रावरणे श्रेष्ठो नक्षत्राणां गणः स्मृतः / कृत्तिका भरण्यश्लेषा मघा मूलविशाखयोः

Transliteration

vastraprāvaraṇe śreṣṭho nakṣatrāṇāṃ gaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ / kṛttikā bharaṇyaśleṣā maghā mūlaviśākhayoḥ

Translation

वस्त्रप्रावरणकर्मणि नक्षत्राणां एष गणः श्रेष्ठः स्मृतः—कृत्तिका भरणी आश्लेषा मघा मूलं विशाखा च।

Word by Word

• वस्त्रप्रावरणे: in/for clothing and covering
• वस्त्रप्रावरणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रावरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘वस्त्रस्य प्रावरणम्’ (covering with cloth)

• श्रेष्ठः: best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• नक्षत्राणाम्: of the nakṣatras
• नक्षत्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• गणः: group/class
• गणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is regarded/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे (is remembered/considered)

• कृत्तिका: Kṛttikā
• कृत्तिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भरणी: Bharaṇī
• भरणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अश्लेषा: Āśleṣā
• अश्लेषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्लेषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मघा: Maghā
• मघा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मघा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मूलविशाखयोः: of Mūla and Viśākhā
• मूलविशाखयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + विशाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री/नपुंसक-द्वन्द्व, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; ‘मूलं च विशाखा च’ (of Mūla and Viśākhā)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain nakṣatras are ‘śreṣṭha’ for vastra-prāvaraṇa (clothing/covering), implying that even mundane acts gain dharmic refinement through right timing.

Vedantic Theme: External order (śauca, niyama) supports inner steadiness; karma is refined by mindful observance.

Application: For gifting clothes, donning new garments for a rite, or covering sacred objects, prefer Kṛttikā, Bharaṇī, Āśleṣā, Maghā, Mūla, Viśākhā as per this list.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59 (action-specific nakṣatra suitability lists)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛttikā
• Bharaṇī
• Āśleṣā
• Maghā
• Mūla
• Viśākhā
• Nakṣatras

FAQs

What is the importance of nakshatra selection for vastra (cloth) offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that specific nakshatras are considered especially auspicious for acts of clothing/covering, guiding devotees to choose favorable timings for vastra-dāna or related observances.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual guidance?

It functions as a practical rule of ritual timing (muhūrta via nakshatra), listing a preferred group of constellations for a particular category of rite—offering or arranging garments/coverings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When planning a cloth donation, temple offering of garments, or a rite involving covering/wrapping, one may (where culturally relevant) prefer the listed nakshatras as an auspicious timing guideline.