Shloka 71

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

वदनं वलयाकारं प्रमाणं चणकादिवत् / देवस्य वामभागे च मध्यदेशं विहाय च

Transliteration

vadanaṃ valayākāraṃ pramāṇaṃ caṇakādivat / devasya vāmabhāge ca madhyadeśaṃ vihāya ca

Translation

Das Antlitz soll kreisförmig wie ein Ring gestaltet werden, im Maß etwa wie eine Kichererbse und dergleichen; und es ist an der linken Seite der Gottheit anzubringen, wobei die mittlere Region ausgespart bleibt.

Word by Word

• वदनम्: face/mouth
• वदनम्: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• वलयाकारम्: ring-shaped
• वलयाकारम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वलय (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः “valayasya ākāraḥ”

• प्रमाणम्: measure/size
• प्रमाणम्: Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• चणकादिवत्: like a chickpea and the like
• चणकादिवत्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चणक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: ‘-वत्’ तद्धितान्त विशेषण; (चणक-आदि)-वत् = “like a chickpea etc.”; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनानुरूपं

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Sambandha/Ṣaṣṭhī (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• वामभागे: on the left side
• वामभागे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-सम्भवः “vāmāḥ bhāgaḥ / vāmabhāgaḥ”; locative “on the left side”

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक conjunction

• मध्यदेशम्: the middle region
• मध्यदेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः “madhyasya deśaḥ”

• विहाय: having left/omitting
• विहाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययकृदन्त; “having left/omitting”

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper form (lakṣaṇa) and placement in worship supports efficacy and auspiciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahman upasana: the finite form as a disciplined support for devotion.

Application: When making/marking a deity-image or ritual diagram, follow proportional measurement and prescribed placement rather than improvisation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26 (lakṣaṇa/tīrtha-mahātmya context)

Characters & Entities

• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of precise measurement (pramāṇa) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes that even small components are to be made with defined proportion (e.g., chickpea-like measure), indicating that accuracy and rule-based placement are essential to ritual efficacy.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader guidance on rites for the departed?

In the Preta Kanda, procedural details support correct performance of rites; here, the verse gives technical placement and sizing rules, reflecting the text’s concern for proper ritual form alongside afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional rites (e.g., śrāddha-related observances) or temple/household worship, follow an authentic manual or priestly guidance carefully—this verse models the value of disciplined, rule-aware practice.