Shloka 3

Worship (Pūjā): Vajra-nābha Maṇḍala Construction, Lotus-Seat Design, and Vaiṣṇava Nyāsa

Devanagari script

कोणसूत्रादुभयतः कोणा ये तत्र संस्थिताः / तेषु चैव प्रकुर्वीत सूत्रपातं विचक्षणः

Transliteration

koṇasūtrādubhayataḥ koṇā ye tatra saṃsthitāḥ / teṣu caiva prakurvīta sūtrapātaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Von der Eck-Schnur (koṇa-sūtra) aus, zu beiden Seiten, welche Ecken dort auch festgelegt sind—genau auf diesen Punkten soll der Kundige sorgfältig die Leit- und Messschnur (sūtra) auswerfen und auslegen.

Word by Word

• कोणसूत्रात्: from the corner-cord (diagonal line)
• कोणसूत्रात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोणसूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) = कोण + सूत्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कोणस्य सूत्रम्)

• उभयतः: on both sides
• उभयतः: Adverbial (Direction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक/परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (on both sides)

• कोणाः: corners/angles
• कोणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ये: which
• ये: Karta (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय

• संस्थिताः: are situated/placed
• संस्थिताः: Kriya (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोग (standing/placed)

• तेषु: in those (corners)
• तेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Discourse marker (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed; precisely
• एव: Discourse marker (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• प्रकुर्वीत: should perform/do
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सूत्रपातम्: the laying of the cord (line)
• सूत्रपातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्रपात (प्रातिपदिक) = सूत्र + पात
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• विचक्षणः: the skilled/wise (person)
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण कर्तरि

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Garuda Purana dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka and craftsmanship (vicakṣaṇa) are required in sacred acts; small errors in foundations propagate.

Vedantic Theme: Apramāda (non-negligence) as a spiritual virtue; disciplined action purifies the doer.

Application: Proceed deliberately in foundational steps; verify each ‘corner’ decision point before moving forward in any practice or project.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual diagram space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.2 (cord placement at corners); Garuda Purana 1.8.1 (maṇḍala purpose: Viṣṇu-arcana)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sūtrapāta (string-line marking) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes accurate layout by laying a guiding cord-line across established corner points, indicating that ritual or sacred construction work should be done with precision and method.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond afterlife topics?

Alongside teachings on dharma and rites, the text also preserves practical procedural guidance; here it highlights disciplined technique—careful measurement and correct placement—as part of righteous ritual practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Apply the principle of “vicakṣaṇa” (skilled care): when performing any religious rite or setting up a sacred space, prioritize correctness, clear alignment, and disciplined execution rather than haste.