Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

कालं प्रवध्यन्नि?शक्तिदा? नेष्टमन्द? / पर्वादिस्तु ज्ञेयः कालः कालविशारदैः

Transliteration

kālaṃ pravadhyanni?śaktidā? neṣṭamanda? / parvādistu jñeyaḥ kālaḥ kālaviśāradaiḥ

Translation

“迦罗”（时间）应由具备能力且训练有素者加以测定与确立；而从“帕尔梵”（仪式/天文周期）起的诸分段，正为通晓时间之学者所认定为“时间”。

Word by Word

• कालम्: time; (auspicious) time
• कालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रवध्यन्: determining; fixing
• प्रवध्यन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वध् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः, शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निःशक्तिदाः: givers of powerlessness; those causing incapacity
• निःशक्तिदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निः-शक्ति-दा (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातुजन्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निःशक्तेः दाः)

• नेष्टमन्दाः: unfavorable and dull/weak
• नेष्टमन्दाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न-इष्ट-मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (न इष्टाः मन्दाः)

• पर्वादिः: (the set) beginning with Parva
• पर्वादिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्व-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पर्वाणि आदिः यस्य)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• ज्ञेयः: should be known
• ज्ञेयः: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (to be known)

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कालविशारदैः: by experts in time
• कालविशारदैः: Karana/Agent-instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल-विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (काले विशारदाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla must be properly determined by the competent; recognized calendric divisions (parvan etc.) constitute actionable ‘time’.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta/dharma) as the intelligible structure within which human action becomes meaningful.

Application: Rely on trained calendric/astronomical calculation (pañcāṅga) to choose proper timings for rites, vows, travel, and major undertakings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.59 (kāla-śāstra/pañcāṅga context; subsequent verses on yogas, nakṣatras, and prohibitions)

FAQs

What is the importance of time (kāla) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that correct observance depends on properly determining time, using recognized divisions such as parvan, as understood by experts.

How does this verse relate to death rituals like śrāddha or piṇḍa-dāna?

While not naming śrāddha directly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana principle that rites must be performed at properly determined times and calendrical divisions for full efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a reliable traditional calendar (pañcāṅga) or qualified priestly guidance to choose correct timings for vows, ancestral rites, and dharmic observances.