Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

द्विगुणेन भवेद्रर्भः समन्ताच्छौनक ध्रुवम् / तद्द्विधा च भवेद्भीतिर्जङ्घा तद्विस्तरार्धगा

Transliteration

dviguṇena bhavedrarbhaḥ samantācchaunaka dhruvam / taddvidhā ca bhavedbhītirjaṅghā tadvistarārdhagā

Translation

Ô Śaunaka, assurément le rarbha (renflement) devient double de tous côtés ; et le bhīti (crainte/retirance) devient lui aussi double. Les jaṅghā (jambes) s’étendent jusqu’à la moitié de cette largeur.

Word by Word

• द्वि: two
• द्वि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासपूर्वाङ्ग (‘गुण’ इत्यनेन सह)

• गुणेन: by double (measure)
• गुणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (द्विगुण); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) → भवेत्
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रर्भः: rarbha (architectural member; term)
• रर्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समन्तात्: on all sides; all around
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (on all sides/from all around)

• शौनक: O Śaunaka
• शौनक: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Sambandha/Avyaya (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत-नपुंसक एकवचन; निश्चयार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (certainly)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘द्विधा’ इत्यनेन सह (तद्द्विधा)

• द्विधा: twofold
• द्विधा: Sambandha/Avyaya (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in two ways/twofold)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) → भवेत्
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भीतिः: bhīti (architectural element; wall/offset)
• भीतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जङ्घा: jaṅghā (architectural ‘leg’/middle section)
• जङ्घा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘विस्तर’ इत्यनेन सह

• विस्तर: breadth/width
• विस्तर: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘अर्ध’ इत्यनेन सह

• अर्ध: half
• अर्ध: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘गा’ इत्यनेन सह

• गा: reaching half (of that breadth)
• गा: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गा (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद: ‘अर्धं गच्छति/प्राप्नोति’ → अर्धगा = half-reaching); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘जङ्घा’ इति विधेयविशेषणम्

Speaker

Uncertain (likely a narrator addressing Śaunaka within a dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Canonical proportion (dviguṇa/ardha) ensures stability and aesthetic dharma in sacred form.

Vedantic Theme: Niyati (order) expressed as mathematical relation; form disciplined by rule.

Application: Make the specified swelling/moulding expand to double on all sides; set the jaṅghā portion to half of that breadth as prescribed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple superstructure detailing (mouldings/vertical members)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.13 (dviguṇa śikhara and further measures)

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka

FAQs

What is the importance of describing bodily changes like 'rarbha' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes how suffering after death is portrayed as both physical (swelling) and psychological (fear), reinforcing the Purana’s ethical warning about consequences.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It presents the post-death condition as one of intensified fear and altered embodiment, consistent with Garuda Purana themes of the preta’s difficult transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and perform appropriate rites with sincerity, since the text frames fear and distress after death as outcomes shaped by one’s actions and preparedness.