Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्दिक्षु तथा ज्ञेयो निर्गमस्तुः तथा बुधैः / पञ्चभागेन संभज्य गर्भमानं विचक्षणः

Transliteration

caturdikṣu tathā jñeyo nirgamastuḥ tathā budhaiḥ / pañcabhāgena saṃbhajya garbhamānaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Les sages doivent pareillement connaître les issues vers les quatre directions. L’homme avisé divisera la mesure du garbha (sanctuaire intérieur) en cinq parts et la fixera selon cela.

Word by Word

• चतुर्: four
• चतुर्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-पूर्वपद (पूर्वपद), समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘दिक्’ इत्यनेन सह समासे प्रयुक्तम्

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद/समुच्चयार्थ-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• ज्ञेयः: to be known; should be determined
• ज्ञेयः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय, विधेय/gerundive), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• निर्गमः: the exit/egress (measure/point)
• निर्गमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर् + गम् (धातु) → निर्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• बुधैः: by the wise (persons)
• बुधैः: Karana/Agentive (Instrument/कर्ता-निर्देशक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासपूर्वाङ्ग (भागेन इत्यनेन सह)

• भागेन: by a part/portion
• भागेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• संभज्य: having divided/apportioned
• संभज्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + भज् (धातु) → संभज्य (क्त्वा-ल्यप्/अव्ययीभाव-भाव)
• Form: कृदन्त अव्यय; ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having divided/apportioned)

• गर्भमानम्: the measure of the garbha (inner sanctum)
• गर्भमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘गर्भस्य मानम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विचक्षणः: the expert; the discerning one
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred order (ṛta) expressed through correct proportion and directional alignment in consecrated architecture.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of microcosm and macrocosm through niyama (rule) and saṃkhyā (measure).

Application: When planning a shrine/structure, mark the four directional outlets and divide the garbha-measure into five equal parts before fixing projections.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/architectural plan-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.10-13 (continuation of prāsāda/garbha measurements)

FAQs

What is the importance of garbha-māna (womb measurement) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse points to a traditional, technical method: understanding directional ‘outlets’ and calculating the womb’s measure by dividing it into five parts, indicating a structured approach to sacred anatomy/embryological description.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to a technical passage on embodiment (garbha-related measures), which forms the background for how the Purana explains entry into and experience within a physical body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that the text treats birth and embodiment with precision and reverence—encouraging ethical living, bodily discipline, and respect for life’s formative stages.