Shloka 84

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

स्थलमौदुंबरसमं तत्प्रमाणमुदाहृतम् / छत्त्राकारं वर्तुलं च प्रसन्नवदनं शुभम्

Transliteration

sthalamauduṃbarasamaṃ tatpramāṇamudāhṛtam / chattrākāraṃ vartulaṃ ca prasannavadanaṃ śubham

Translation

وقد أُعلن أن مقداره يساوي امتداد موضع خشب الأودومبارا (udumbara). ويُستحب أن يكون على هيئة مظلّةٍ مستديرة، بوجهٍ هادئٍ مُشرق—مباركًا من كل وجه.

Word by Word

• स्थलम्: the base/area
• स्थलम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; described entity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ground/place (here: base/area)

• औदुंबर-समम्: equal to an udumbara (fig)
• औदुंबर-समम्: विशेषण (Adjective of sthalam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औदुंबर (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — qualifying ‘स्थलम्’; ‘equal to an udumbara (fig)’

• तत्-प्रमाणम्: that measure
• तत्-प्रमाणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘declared’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘that measure/dimension’

• उदाहृतम्: is declared
• उदाहृतम्: क्रिया (Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — is stated

• छत्त्र-आकारम्: umbrella-shaped
• छत्त्र-आकारम्: विशेषण (Adjective; described form)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छत्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘umbrella-shaped’

• वर्तुलम्: round
• वर्तुलम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्तुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — round/circular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• प्रसन्न-वदनम्: with a serene face
• प्रसन्न-वदनम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘having a serene face’

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — auspicious

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra-guided form (lakṣaṇa, pramāṇa) safeguards auspiciousness; correct making of sacred objects is itself dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Arcā as a sanctioned support (ālambana) for devotion; order (ṛta/dharma) expressed through proportion and serenity (prasanna-vadana).

Application: When commissioning/creating mūrti or sacred emblem, follow traditional pramāṇa and lakṣaṇa; ensure artisanship aligns with ritual standards and intended worship context.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.85-86 (continuation of form/feature specifications)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of prescribing a specific shape and measure in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes that ritual acts should follow a defined pramāṇa (measure) and auspicious form, as correctness in rite-structure is treated as spiritually effective in preta-related observances.

How does this verse connect to the journey of the soul described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, properly performed post-death rites support the departed being (preta) with ordered, dharmic assistance; this verse gives a technical specification for an auspicious ritual form used within that framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or related memorial rites, follow traditional guidance from qualified priests/textual tradition—prioritizing sincerity and correctness of procedure while keeping the act calm, pure, and auspicious in intent.