Shloka 14

Vāstu-pūjā, Vāstu-maṇḍala Deities, Site Computations, and Doorway/Tree Prescriptions

Devanagari script

सुरेज्यः पुरतः कार्यो यस्याग्नेय्यां महानसम् / कपिनिर्गमने (णी)?येन पूर्वतः सत्रमण्डपम्

Transliteration

surejyaḥ purataḥ kāryo yasyāgneyyāṃ mahānasam / kapinirgamane (ṇī)?yena pūrvataḥ satramaṇḍapam

Translation

The altar for worship of the gods should be made in the front; the kitchen should be placed in the south‑east. A passage for the monkey’s exit should be arranged, and in front (to the east) the pavilion for the sacrificial rite should be set up.

Word by Word

• सुरेज्यः: the worshipper of the gods (reading/meaning uncertain)
• सुरेज्यः: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरेज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पाठार्थः—‘सुर-इज्यः’ (देवपूजकः/यज्ञकर्ता) इति सम्भाव्यः

• पुरतः: in front; to the fore
• पुरतः: अधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• कार्यः: should be made/placed
• कार्यः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicative adjective) ‘to be done/should be made’

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (relative pronoun)

• आग्नेय्याम्: in the south-east (direction)
• आग्नेय्याम्: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• महानसम्: kitchen
• महानसम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सन्दर्भे कर्मरूपेण (to be made)

• कपि-निर्गमने: at the monkey-exit (place)
• कपि-निर्गमने: अधिकरण (Location/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपेः निर्गमनम्)

• (णी)?येन: (uncertain reading)
• (णी)?येन: अनिश्चित
• Type: Noun
• Root: (अस्पष्ट)
• Form: पाठदोष/अनिश्चितपाठः; सम्भाव्यं ‘नीयेन’ (नी (धातु) + यत्/क्तव्य? इत्यादि) अथवा ‘न्यायेन’ इति; निश्चितं न शक्यते

• पूर्वतः: to the east; in front
• पूर्वतः: अधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• सत्र-मण्डपम्: the sacrificial pavilion
• सत्र-मण्डपम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सत्रस्य मण्डपः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Household space is a ritual instrument; correct placement supports devas, fire, and orderly movement.

Vedantic Theme: Sacralization of daily life: gṛhastha-karma becomes yajña through right arrangement and intention.

Application: Place pūjā/altar in the front/east; keep kitchen in south-east; ensure functional circulation (passageways) and designate a clean area for rites/assemblies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: house-plan orientation (vāstu)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.46.15-16 (other room placements complete the vāstu scheme)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of directional placement (Agni corner) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links ritual purity and effectiveness with correct spatial arrangement—placing the kitchen in the south‑east aligns cooking/fire with Agni’s direction.

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

It shows the text also preserves practical dharma—rules for organizing worship and sacrificial spaces—alongside its better-known teachings on death rites and the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When setting up a home shrine or conducting a ritual, keep the worship area clean and front-facing, and place fire/cooking activities in the south‑east where feasible.