Shloka 92

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

न गर्भे स्थापयेद्देवं न गर्भं तु परित्यजेत् / ईषन्मध्यं परित्यज्य ततो दोषापहं तु तत्

Transliteration

na garbhe sthāpayeddevaṃ na garbhaṃ tu parityajet / īṣanmadhyaṃ parityajya tato doṣāpahaṃ tu tat

Translation

One should not install the Deity within the garbha (womb-chamber) of the sanctum, nor should one abandon the garbha itself. Leaving a slight space at the center, that arrangement becomes fault-removing, free from ritual defects.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• garbhe: in the womb/inner chamber
• garbhe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• sthāpayet: should place/establish
• sthāpayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धा√स्था) + ṇic (णिच्) causative
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त-धातु (causative)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• garbham: the womb/inner chamber
• garbham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (but/indeed)

• parityajet: should abandon/leave
• parityajet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + tyaj (धा√त्यज्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• īṣat: slightly
• īṣat: Sambandha (Modifier/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: īṣat (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाणार्थक-अव्यय (slightly)

• madhyam: the middle/central portion
• madhyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (īṣat इत्यनेन विशेषितम्)

• parityajya: having abandoned
• parityajya: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + tyaj (धा√त्यज्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमार्थक (thereupon/from that)

• doṣāpaham: removing faults
• doṣāpaham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + apaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (doṣān apahanti iti)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (indeed)

• tat: that (act/thing)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and avoidance/removal of defects (doṣa) through proper placement and leaving a measured central space.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as immanent yet approached through ordered upāsanā; purity of means (sādhana-śuddhi) supports clarity of devotion.

Application: In consecration/installation, do not crowd the garbha; maintain prescribed spacing and follow āgamic/vaidika layout to prevent ritual defects.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple interior (womb-chamber)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (pratiṣṭhā/arcana-vidhi context)

Characters & Entities

• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of leaving a slight central space in the garbha according to Garuda Purana?

This verse states that omitting a small central portion (īṣan-madhya) in the sanctum arrangement makes the installation “doṣāpaha”—it removes ritual/structural defects connected with placement.

How does this verse relate to ritual correctness (doṣa-śānti) in Garuda Purana?

It frames correct placement as a means of preventing doṣa (fault) during deity establishment, emphasizing precise spatial rules in the garbhagṛha rather than abandoning the sanctum or placing the deity improperly.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For temple construction or consecration, follow qualified āgamic/vaidika guidance on sanctum proportions and image placement; small deviations in layout are treated as meaningful for ensuring a “doṣa-free” installation.