Shloka 6

Sūrya-upāsanā: Lotus Mandala, Mudrā, Dik-nyāsa, and the Twelve Ādityas

Devanagari script

नैरृत्यां दानवगुरुं वारुण्यां तु शनैश्चरम् / वायव्यां च तथा केतुं कौबेर्यां राहुमेव च

Transliteration

nairṛtyāṃ dānavaguruṃ vāruṇyāṃ tu śanaiścaram / vāyavyāṃ ca tathā ketuṃ kauberyāṃ rāhumeva ca

Translation

于西南（Nairṛti）方安置达那婆之师——舒克罗（Śukra）；于西方（伐楼那之方）安置沙尼（Śani）；于西北（伐由之方）安置计都（Ketu）；于北方（俱毗罗之方）亦安置罗睺（Rāhu）。

Word by Word

• नैरृत्यां: in the south-west direction (Nirṛti’s quarter)
• नैरृत्यां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular; दिक्-स्थानवाचक

• दानवगुरुम्: teacher of the Dānavas (Śukra/Venus)
• दानवगुरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दानवानां गुरु:)

• वारुण्यां: in the western direction
• वारुण्यां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle)

• शनैश्चरम्: Śanaiścara (Saturn)
• शनैश्चरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शनैश्चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• वायव्यां: in the north-west direction
• वायव्यां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• केतुम्: Ketu
• केतुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• कौबेर्यां: in the northern direction (Kubera’s quarter)
• कौबेर्यां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौबेरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular; दिक्-स्थानवाचक

• राहुम्: Rāhu
• राहुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even difficult grahas (Śani, Rāhu, Ketu) have ordained places; adversity is integrated into cosmic order and can mature discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as educative; duḥkha as a means for vairāgya when met with steadiness.

Application: When facing delays/obstacles (Śani) or confusion/obsession (Rāhu-Ketu), respond with patience, ethical action, and steady practice rather than panic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-mandala/directional-quarters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.17.5 (other grahas in quarters); Garuda Purana 1.17.7-1.17.8 (solar/Viṣṇu forms as higher integration)

Characters & Entities

• Nairṛti (direction)
• Varuṇa
• Vāyu
• Kubera
• Śukra (Dānavaguru)
• Śani
• Ketu
• Rahu
• Dānavas

FAQs

What is the importance of assigning grahas (planets) to directions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse maps specific grahas to specific quarters (dik), reflecting a cosmological order used in traditional Hindu spatial symbolism and ritual orientation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: it situates grahas within the cosmic geography that frames karmic results; while not describing the soul’s journey itself, it supports the Purana’s broader worldview where cosmic forces and directions are part of the moral-ritual universe.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reference for understanding traditional directional symbolism in worship and study of Navagraha concepts, keeping focus on ethical living and disciplined conduct rather than superstition.