Shloka 85

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

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

चणकप्रदेशमात्रं च वदनं समुदाहृतम् / सव्ये दक्षिणपार्श्वे च समयोः पुष्कलान्वितम्

Transliteration

caṇakapradeśamātraṃ ca vadanaṃ samudāhṛtam / savye dakṣiṇapārśve ca samayoḥ puṣkalānvitam

Translation

Es heißt, das Antlitz sei nur von der Größe eines Kichererbsenmaßes; und sowohl zur linken wie zur rechten Seite ist es mit voller Symmetrie und Vollständigkeit versehen.

Word by Word

• चणक-प्रदेश-मात्रम्: measuring a chickpea’s area
• चणक-प्रदेश-मात्रम्: विशेषण (Adjective of vadanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चणक (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — qualifying ‘वदनम्’; ‘only as much as the area of a chickpea’

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

• वदनम्: the face
• वदनम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; described entity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — face/mouth

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

• सव्ये: on the left
• सव्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — on the left side

• दक्षिण-पार्श्वे: on the right side
• दक्षिण-पार्श्वे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — on the right side/flank

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

• समयोः: in the two joints/meeting points
• समयोः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (6th Genitive or 7th Locative), द्विवचन — ‘of/in the two junctions/meeting-points’; context suggests locative ‘in both joints’

• पुष्कल-अन्वितम्: endowed with fullness
• पुष्कल-अन्वितम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘endowed with fullness/abundance’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspiciousness is preserved through symmetry and correct proportion; dharma includes careful adherence to prescribed standards in sacred making.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony (sāmyatā) as an outward sign supporting inward steadiness; disciplined form aids disciplined mind in worship.

Application: When producing/choosing a sacred icon, verify proportional features and symmetry; consult knowledgeable ācāryas/śilpins to avoid inauspicious defects.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.84 (shape/serene face); Garuda Purana 3.26.86 (color and emblems)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of describing bodily proportions in Garuda Purana?

This verse contributes to the Purana’s technical depiction of the being’s form (often read in a subtle-body/after-death context), emphasizing symmetry and defined measures rather than a random or formless existence.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s descriptive sections, such details support the idea that the jiva experiences the after-death passage with a definable “vehicle” or form, whose characteristics are described systematically.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages a disciplined, scriptural view of life and death—prompting mindful conduct (dharma) and serious attention to death-related rites, rather than treating the afterlife as vague or purely symbolic.