Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

गृहान्तराणि सर्वाणि सजलैः कदलीगृहैः / पञ्चवर्णैश्च कुसुमैः शोभितानि प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

gṛhāntarāṇi sarvāṇi sajalaiḥ kadalīgṛhaiḥ / pañcavarṇaiśca kusumaiḥ śobhitāni prakalpayet

Translation

Qu’on dispose et qu’on orne tous les espaces intérieurs de la demeure avec des structures de tiges de bananier encore humides, et qu’on les pare de fleurs aux cinq couleurs.

Word by Word

• गृहान्तराणि: inner rooms/inner houses
• गृहान्तराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गृहस्य अन्तरम्)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गृहान्तराणि)

• सजलैः: with water; water-filled
• सजलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (जलेन सह = जलयुक्तैः)

• कदलीगृहैः: banana-leaf huts/banana structures
• कदलीगृहैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदली + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कदल्या निर्मितं/कदलीसम्बद्धं गृहं)

• पञ्चवर्णैः: of five colors
• पञ्चवर्णैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च वर्णाः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शोभितानि: decorated, adorned
• शोभितानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गृहान्तराणि)

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External śobhana (beautification) supports internal bhāva; offering beauty and freshness to the divine and to dharmic rites.

Vedantic Theme: Upacāra-bhakti: using sensory purity (gandha, varṇa, sparśa) to steady the mind toward the sacred.

Application: For worship/ritual occasions, keep interiors clean and adorned with fresh, ethically sourced flowers; use natural décor that signals reverence and care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: interior ritual-architectural space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.46.17 (guest-house provisioning); Garuda Purana 1.46.19 (enclosure and groves)

FAQs

What is the importance of decorating the house in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes preparing the household space in a clean, fresh, and auspicious manner—using banana-stalk arrangements and multi-colored flowers—as part of proper observance of death-related rites and associated ceremonies.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it focuses on correct external ritual preparation, which in the Garuda Purana is presented as supportive to dharmic observance around death and the well-being of the departed through prescribed rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and a calm, respectful, auspicious environment during memorial or śrāddha observances; use simple natural decorations (like leaves and flowers) to mark the ritual space with reverence.