Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

आदिसूत्रविभागेन द्वाराणि परिकल्पयेत् / द्वारशोभां तथा तत्र तदर्धेन तु कल्पयेत्

Transliteration

ādisūtravibhāgena dvārāṇi parikalpayet / dvāraśobhāṃ tathā tatra tadardhena tu kalpayet

Translation

By dividing according to the primary measuring cord, one should lay out the doorways; and there, the doorway’s ornamentation should be designed as half of that measure.

Word by Word

• आदि: initial, first
• आदि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-पूर्वपदप्रातिपदिक; समासपूर्वपद (पूर्व/आदौ) अर्थे, नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिकरूपेण

• सूत्र: thread, line
• सूत्र: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (सूत्र); समासाङ्ग

• विभागेन: by division, by arrangement
• विभागेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• आदिसूत्रविभागेन: by the division of the initial guideline/thread
• आदिसूत्रविभागेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि + सूत्र + विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: आदेः सूत्रस्य विभागः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्वाराणि: doors, gateways
• द्वाराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• परिकल्पयेत्: should arrange/construct
• परिकल्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्वार: door
• द्वार: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• शोभाम्: beauty, decoration
• शोभाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्वारशोभाम्: the decoration of the doors
• द्वारशोभाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार + शोभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी: द्वारस्य शोभा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तत्र: there, in that (place)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• तद्: that
• तद्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; समासपूर्वपद (तस्य) अर्थे

• अर्धेन: by half
• अर्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तदर्धेन: by half of that
• तदर्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी: तस्य अर्धम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/make
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual-architectural proportion (māna) and auspicious design (śobhā) as a support for sacred action.

Vedantic Theme: Outer order (niyama) as an aid to inner steadiness (citta-śuddhi) before worship.

Application: In any sacred setup (altar/door/entry), keep measurements consistent; let ornamentation be restrained and proportionate (here: half-measure) to avoid excess and preserve sanctity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: architectural/ritual space (dvāra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.10-13 (mandala colors, nyasa, Hari-puja)

FAQs

What is the importance of doorway proportions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the doorway as a measured, rule-governed element of sacred or auspicious construction, insisting that both placement (via the primary measuring guideline) and decoration follow proportion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey directly; it belongs to a Vastu/measurement context, emphasizing order and proportion in constructing spaces used for dharmic living and ritual.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When building or renovating a prayer room, home entrance, or temple space, keep doorway layout and ornamentation proportionate to the chosen base measurement to maintain visual harmony and ritual suitability.