Shloka 7

Prāsāda-Lakṣaṇa: Temple Proportions, Śikhara Ratios, Liṅga–Pīṭha Measures, and Auspicious Ground-Plans

Devanagari script

चतुर्भागेन भित्तीनामुच्छ्रायः स्यात्प्रमाणतः

Transliteration

caturbhāgena bhittīnāmucchrāyaḥ syātpramāṇataḥ

Translation

Según la medida correcta, la altura de los muros debe ser de una cuarta parte (1/4) del patrón correspondiente.

Word by Word

• catur-bhāgena: by a fourth part
• catur-bhāgena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• bhittīnām: of the walls
• bhittīnām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhitti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• ucchrāyaḥ: height
• ucchrāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ucchrāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• pramāṇataḥ: according to the measure
• pramāṇataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb: ‘according to measure/standard’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa (right measure) as discipline: the wall’s rise must follow the canon.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic order—measured restraint supporting higher ascent (śikhara).

Application: Follow established ratios and codes in construction; do not overbuild or underbuild foundational elements.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: structural walls (bhitti) of the shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.8 (śikhara twice wall height; pradakṣiṇā width)

FAQs

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

This verse stresses that construction should follow fixed proportional standards; correct pramāṇa is treated as essential for orderly, dharmic building practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to instructional material on correct proportions and standards, reflecting the Purana’s broader concern with dharma in daily life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When designing or renovating, maintain clear proportional planning and consistent standards rather than arbitrary dimensions—prioritizing structural coherence and disciplined method.