Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

धनुषा वृषभः श्रेष्ठो मिथुनेन च वृश्चिकः / एतत्षडष्टकं?प्रीत्यै भवत्येव न संशयः

Transliteration

dhanuṣā vṛṣabhaḥ śreṣṭho mithunena ca vṛścikaḥ / etatṣaḍaṣṭakaṃ?prītyai bhavatyeva na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

ధనుస్సుతో పోల్చితే వృషభం శ్రేష్ఠం; మిథునంతో పోల్చితే వృశ్చికం శ్రేష్ఠం. ఈ షడష్టక-సంబంధం నిశ్చయంగా ప్రీతిని కలిగిస్తుంది—సందేహం లేదు॥

Word by Word

• धनुषा: by (the sign) Sagittarius (bow)
• धनुषा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with the bow-sign)

• वृषभः: Taurus (the bull)
• वृषभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• श्रेष्ठः: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; विशेषण (qualifying वृषभः)

• मिथुनेन: by (the sign) Gemini (the pair)
• मिथुनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

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

• वृश्चिकः: Scorpio (the scorpion)
• वृश्चिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृश्चिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative; विशेषण (qualifying षडष्टकम्)

• षडष्टकम्: the group of six and eight (i.e., the 6th/8th set)
• षडष्टकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical compound)

• प्रीत्यै: for pleasure, for satisfaction
• प्रीत्यै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular (for the sake of)

• भवति: becomes, is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 3rd sg

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• न: not, no
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Compatibility (6/8 rāśi relation) is said to generate prīti (affection) despite apparent tension; outcomes are inferred through śāstraic correlation.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha and guṇa-conditioned relations operate within vyavahāra; śāstra offers a lens for navigating saṃsāra.

Application: Use compatibility rules cautiously in marriage/partnership decisions; prioritize character and dharma while treating omens as secondary guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.61 (rāśi/saṃbandha-phalāni context); Garuda Purana 1.62 (pramāṇa/assessment methods, adjacent topical flow)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Dhanu (Sagittarius)
• Vrishabha (Taurus)
• Mithuna (Gemini)
• Vrishchika (Scorpio)

FAQs

What is the importance of shad-ashtaka (6/8) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the 6/8 zodiac relationship as a meaningful indicator in relational dynamics, stating it can produce prīti (affection) without doubt in the cited pairings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it presents an astrological rule about rashi relationships and the arising of prīti, as part of Garuda Purana’s broader instructional discourse.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional compatibility pointer—tempered with discernment—focusing on cultivating harmony (prīti) through conduct and communication rather than relying only on rashi factors.