Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

ईशाने च शिरः पादौ नैरृते ऽग्न्यनिले करौ / आवासवासवेश्मादौ पुरे ग्रामे वणिक्पथे

Transliteration

īśāne ca śiraḥ pādau nairṛte 'gnyanile karau / āvāsavāsaveśmādau pure grāme vaṇikpathe

Translation

Au nord-est se placent la tête et les pieds ; au sud-ouest, les mains, en accord avec Agni et Vāyu. Cet agencement selon les directions doit être observé dans les demeures, dans les palais d’Indra (temples ou résidences), ainsi que dans les villes, les villages et les rues des marchands.

Word by Word

• ईशाने: in the Īśāna (northeast) direction
• ईशाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पादौ: feet (two)
• पादौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• नैरृते: in the Nairṛta (southwest) direction
• नैरृते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अग्नि-अनिले: in (the quarters of) Agni and Anila
• अग्नि-अनिले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास, पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन; ‘अग्न्यनिले’ इति सन्धिविग्रहः

• करौ: hands (two)
• करौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• आवास-वासव-एश्म-आदौ: in dwellings, Indra’s (places), stone-houses, etc.
• आवास-वासव-एश्म-आदौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवास (प्रातिपदिक) + वासव (प्रातिपदिक) + एश्मन्/एश्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/समुच्चयार्थक समास (द्वन्द्वप्राय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘...आदौ’ = ‘...आदि-स्थाने’

• पुरे: in a city
• पुरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• ग्रामे: in a village
• ग्रामे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वणिक्-पथे: on the merchants’ road/market-street
• वणिक्-पथे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वणिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वणिजः पथः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order (ṛta) expressed as spatial discipline—proper orientation of body/space to sustain auspiciousness and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha through niyama; harmonizing microcosm (body/house) with macrocosm (dik-devatā).

Application: Apply directional rules in house/temple planning and in arranging sleeping/ritual posture; keep NE auspicious/clean and SW stable/weighty per traditional vāstu logic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: architectural/urban layout (dwellings, Indra’s mansions/temples, towns, villages, market streets)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.46 (vāstu/dik-devatā enumeration context)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vayu
• Indra (Vasava)

FAQs

What is the importance of the north-east (Īśāna) direction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse associates the north-east with the placement of vital orientation (head/feet), implying it is a key direction for orderly, auspicious spatial arrangement in homes and settlements.

How does this verse relate to ritual or sacred space planning?

By linking body-orientation and directional deities/elements (Agni and Vāyu) to houses, Indra’s mansions, cities, and marketplaces, the verse frames spatial layout as part of dharmic order rather than mere construction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use consistent directional planning for living and worship spaces—especially emphasizing the north-east as a prioritized zone—so that daily life, commerce, and ritual settings follow a disciplined, tradition-aligned layout.