Shloka 17

Vashikarana–Stambhana Prayogas and Garbha-Sambhava Yogas

Devanagari script

ओष्ठे नेत्रे ललाटे च मूर्ध्नि चन्द्रकलाः स्थिताः / स्त्रीणां पक्षे सिते कृष्णे ऊर्ध्वाधः संस्थिता नृणाम्

Transliteration

oṣṭhe netre lalāṭe ca mūrdhni candrakalāḥ sthitāḥ / strīṇāṃ pakṣe site kṛṣṇe ūrdhvādhaḥ saṃsthitā nṛṇām

Translation

Các tuần trăng được nói là an trú nơi môi, nơi mắt, nơi trán và nơi đỉnh đầu. Ở nữ giới, chúng được sắp theo thứ tự trong nửa tháng sáng và nửa tháng tối; còn ở nam giới, chúng được sắp theo trật tự đảo ngược—trên và dưới.

Word by Word

• ओष्ठे: on the lip
• ओष्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• नेत्रे: in the eye
• नेत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ललाटे: on the forehead
• ललाटे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Discourse (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• चन्द्रकलाः: phases/parts of the moon
• चन्द्रकलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चन्द्रस्य कलाः)

• स्थिताः: are situated
• स्थिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are situated’

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

• पक्षे: in the fortnight
• पक्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सिते: in the bright (fortnight)
• सिते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (पक्षे)

• कृष्णे: in the dark (fortnight)
• कृष्णे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (पक्षे)

• ऊर्ध्वाधः: upwards and downwards
• ऊर्ध्वाधः: Sambandha/Discourse (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + अधः (अव्ययद्वन्द्व)
• Form: अव्यय; द्वन्द्वसमासः (directional adverbs)

• संस्थिताः: are arranged/placed
• संस्थिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are arranged/placed’

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Microcosm-macrocosm correspondence: lunar phases (kalāḥ) are stationed in bodily loci; gendered ordering differs (women: śukla/krishna sequence; men: reverse).

Vedantic Theme: Kala (time) as a cosmic principle reflected in the embodied mind-sense complex; experiential reality structured by cosmic rhythms.

Application: Use the mapping of tithis/kalas to interpret auspiciousness, bodily signs, or timing/placement in related prayogas; note gender-specific inversion (ūrdhva-adhaḥ arrangement).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: microcosmic locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.178.16 (body loci list preceding this lunar mapping)

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon)
• Strī (women)
• Nara (men)

FAQs

What is the importance of lunar phases (candrakalā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the moon’s phases with specific bodily locations, implying that lunar time (śukla/kṛṣṇa pakṣa) is not only calendrical but also reflected symbolically in the human constitution, supporting ritual and vrata timing.

How does this verse explain differences between women and men regarding śukla and kṛṣṇa pakṣa?

It states that the arrangement of the lunar fortnights is described as one order for women and reversed (ūrdhva-adhaḥ) for men, presenting a traditional symbolic mapping used in interpreting observances and bodily indicators.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to align disciplined practices—fasts, prayer, and ethical vows—with the lunar calendar (bright/dark fortnights), while treating the body as a sacred instrument for dharma rather than mere superstition.