Shloka 11

Nirūpaṇa (Nāḍī–Svara-Nirūpaṇam): Breath Currents, Omens, and Action-Timing

Devanagari script

दक्षिणा रौद्रभागेन जगच्छोषयते सदा / द्वयोर्वाहे तु मृत्युः स्यात्सर्वकार्यविनाशिनी

Transliteration

dakṣiṇā raudrabhāgena jagacchoṣayate sadā / dvayorvāhe tu mṛtyuḥ syātsarvakāryavināśinī

Translation

Dòng phương Nam (bên phải), do phần tính dữ (raudra), luôn làm thế gian khô kiệt và khổ não. Nhưng khi cả hai dòng cùng vận hành, liền thành tử vong—phá hoại mọi công việc.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणा: the right (one)
• दक्षिणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रौद्रभागेन: by/with the fierce aspect
• रौद्रभागेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्र + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (with the fierce portion/aspect)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शोषयते: dries up, causes to wither
• शोषयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• द्वयोः: of the two
• द्वयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (द्वि-शब्द) षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• वाहे: in the flow/stream (vāha)
• वाहे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be / may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सर्वकार्यविनाशिनी: destroying all undertakings
• सर्वकार्यविनाशिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + कार्य + विनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक); विनाशिनी ← नश् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (destroyer of all actions/undertakings)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right/southern current carries a fierce, desiccating potency; simultaneous bilateral flow is an inauspicious sign culminating in death and failure of works.

Vedantic Theme: Embodied life as prāṇa-dependent; impermanence (anityatā) of projects under the sway of time and prāṇa.

Application: Avoid initiating major undertakings when breath flows strongly in the ‘fierce’ mode or when both nostrils flow equally (as an omen); shift to calming practices, postpone risky actions, attend to health and safety.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: subtle-body (right/‘southern’ current; nāḍī flow)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.67.12 (nostril rules; lunar/solar mapping); Garuda Purana 1.67.13-14 (task-success by iḍā/piṅgalā)

FAQs

What is the importance of prāṇa movement as a death sign in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific movements of the life-breath (currents) with decline and the final cessation of life, presenting prāṇa-flow as an indicator of approaching death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By stating that the combined movement of the two currents culminates in death, it marks the transition-point when embodied activity ends and the jīva proceeds toward the post-death journey described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat life as time-bound: prioritize dharmic duties and spiritual practice, and avoid postponing essential responsibilities, since death is described as the destroyer of all worldly undertakings.