Shloka 3

Prāsāda-Lakṣaṇa: Temple Proportions, Śikhara Ratios, Liṅga–Pīṭha Measures, and Auspicious Ground-Plans

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वक्षेत्रसमा जङ्घा जङ्घार्धद्विगुणं भवेत् / गर्भविस्तारविस्तीर्णः शुकाङ्घ्रिश्च विधीयते

Transliteration

ūrdhvakṣetrasamā jaṅghā jaṅghārdhadviguṇaṃ bhavet / garbhavistāravistīrṇaḥ śukāṅghriśca vidhīyate

Translation

Der Unterschenkel (jāṅghā) gilt als dem oberen Bereich im Maß gleich; der Oberschenkel wird doppelt so groß wie das Maß der halben jāṅghā. Der Rumpf wird entsprechend seiner Ausdehnung breit gestaltet, und die Füße werden schlank und wohlproportioniert geformt.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्वक्षेत्रसमा: equal to the upper section
• ऊर्ध्वक्षेत्रसमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ऊर्ध्वक्षेत्रेण समा = equal to the upper field/upper section)

• जङ्घा: the base/leg (jaṅghā)
• जङ्घा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जङ्घार्धद्विगुणम्: twice the half of the jaṅghā
• जङ्घार्धद्विगुणम्: Karma/Predicate complement (Object/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जङ्घायाः अर्धस्य द्विगुणम् = twice the half of the jaṅghā)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गर्भविस्तारविस्तीर्णः: broad as per the inner-chamber width
• गर्भविस्तारविस्तीर्णः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त: स्तृ/स्तॄ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गर्भस्य विस्तारेण विस्तीर्णः = expanded according to the garbha-width)

• शुकाङ्घ्रिः: the śukāṅghri (a technical architectural member)
• शुकाङ्घ्रिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शुकस्य अङ्घ्रिः = ‘parrot-foot’ type/member, technical term)

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

• विधीयते: is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (is prescribed/arranged)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Maintain canonical proportions (jāṅghā/ūru/garbha/śukāṅghri) so the prāsāda attains harmony and auspicious form.

Vedantic Theme: Form as a vehicle for the formless: disciplined proportion supports sattva and contemplative stability; sacred art as upāya (support) for devotion.

Application: Apply proportional ratios consistently across vertical elements; ensure base/shaft/trunk/footing are balanced—neither squat nor top-heavy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: architectural proportional system

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47 (prāsāda-lakṣaṇa sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of body-proportion teachings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a prescriptive, measured view of bodily formation, reflecting the text’s broader concern with how embodied existence is structured and understood in dharmic cosmology.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing the constructed nature of embodiment, it supports the Garuda Purana’s larger framework where the soul’s journey is experienced through specific bodies (gross/subtle) shaped by cosmic order and karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages disciplined, reverential understanding of the body as an ordered instrument for dharma—supporting ethical living, self-restraint, and purposeful practice rather than mere indulgence.