Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

वासवस्तु तथा ऋक्षं धनिष्ठा प्रोच्यते बुधैः / तथा शतभिषा प्रोक्तं नक्षत्रं वारुणं शिव

Transliteration

vāsavastu tathā ṛkṣaṃ dhaniṣṭhā procyate budhaiḥ / tathā śatabhiṣā proktaṃ nakṣatraṃ vāruṇaṃ śiva

Translation

บัณฑิตกล่าวว่านักษัตรธนิษฐาเป็นของวาสวะ (พระอินทร์); และโอพระศิวะ นักษัตรศตภิษาถูกกล่าวว่าเป็นวารุณะ คืออยู่ใต้พระวรุณ

Word by Word

• वासवः: of Vāsava (Indra) / Indra as deity
• वासवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (वासव=इन्द्रसम्बन्धि/इन्द्रदेवत्य)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विशेषार्थक (particle)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• ऋक्षम्: nakṣatra/asterism
• ऋक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धनिष्ठा: Dhaniṣṭhā (nakṣatra)
• धनिष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhaniṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोच्यते: is called/said
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• शतभिषा: Śatabhiṣā (nakṣatra)
• शतभिषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatabhiṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नक्षत्रम्: nakṣatra
• नक्षत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वारुणम्: of Varuṇa / Varuṇa as deity
• वारुणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वरुणसम्बन्धि/वरुणदेवत्य)

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devata mapping of time supports right performance of rites and harmonizing with cosmic governance (Indra/Varuna).

Vedantic Theme: Rta upheld by devatas; disciplined action (karma) becomes worship when aligned with order.

Application: Invoke Indra for strength/protection and Varuna for purification, truthfulness, and water-related blessings when these nakshatras prevail.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sphere (lunar mansions)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59.1-9 (nakshatra-devata list)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsava (Indra)
• Varuṇa
• Dhaniṣṭhā (Nakṣatra)
• Śatabhiṣā (Nakṣatra)

FAQs

What is the importance of nakshatra deities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific nakṣatras to presiding deities (Indra for Dhaniṣṭhā and Varuṇa for Śatabhiṣā), supporting ritual timing, vows, and interpretive frameworks where cosmic order (ṛta) is mapped through lunar mansions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by grounding religious life in cosmic correspondences (nakṣatra–deity), it reflects the Purāṇic view that dharmic actions and rites are aligned with celestial order, which in turn supports auspicious outcomes for the jīva.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use nakṣatra–deity associations for selecting muhurta, performing deity-focused japa or vrata on relevant days, and understanding traditional ritual calendars tied to Dhaniṣṭhā (Indra) and Śatabhiṣā (Varuṇa).