Shloka 25

Devanagari script

आकाशे गन्धमाली स्यात्क्षेत्रपालांस्ततो यजेत् / विस्ताराभिहतं दैर्घ्यं राशिं वास्तोस्तु कारयेत्

Transliteration

ākāśe gandhamālī syātkṣetrapālāṃstato yajet / vistārābhihataṃ dairghyaṃ rāśiṃ vāstostu kārayet

Translation

Im offenen Raum darüber soll man eine duftende Blumengirlande als Opfergabe niederlegen; danach verehre man die Kṣetrapālas, die Hüter des Ortes. Für das Vāstu‑Ritual bereite man einen Haufen bzw. ein Maß vor, das durch Multiplikation von Länge und Breite (also der Flächenmaßzahl) gewonnen wird.

Word by Word

• ākāśe: in the sky/space
• ākāśe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• gandha-mālī: Gandhamālī (name)
• gandha-mālī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (one having a garland of fragrance)

• syāt: should be/is to be
• syāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; भावे/कर्तरि

• kṣetrapālān: the guardians (kṣetrapālas)
• kṣetrapālān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (guardians of the field)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: then)

• yajet: should worship/sacrifice to
• yajet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तरि

• vistāra-abhihatam: multiplied by the breadth
• vistāra-abhihatam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vistāra (प्रातिपदिक) + abhihata (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (multiplied by the breadth)

• dairghyam: length
• dairghyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dairghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• rāśim: the quantity/heap (result)
• rāśim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vāstoḥ: of the site/dwelling
• vāstoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāstu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक निपात (particle)

• kārayet: should cause to be done/should compute
• kārayet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) [णिच् causative: kāray-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and spatial order: offerings plus guardian-worship and accurate measurement harmonize human activity with cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as alignment of action with order; sacred space as a support for sattva and devotion.

Application: Before building/renovation or major household rites: perform a simple offering, honor the ‘guardians’ (community, environment, tradition), and follow precise planning/measurement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space / construction site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.46.26 (division into shares; continuation of vāstu procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapālas (site guardians)
• Vāstu (site deity/rite)

FAQs

What is the importance of Kṣetrapāla worship in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse places Kṣetrapāla worship immediately before the Vāstu procedure, indicating that honoring the site’s guardians is a prerequisite for removing obstacles and ritually securing the land.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey; it belongs to the Ācāra/Vāstu instructions, focusing on correct ritual conduct for a site rather than afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before beginning construction or consecration, perform a simple respectful offering (flowers/fragrance) and a brief prayer to local guardians/deities, and follow careful measurement and planning rather than haste.