Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

मणाडपः समसंख्याभिर्गुणितः सूत्रकस्तथा / मण्डपस्य चतुर्थांशाद्भद्रः कार्यो विजानता

Transliteration

maṇāḍapaḥ samasaṃkhyābhirguṇitaḥ sūtrakastathā / maṇḍapasya caturthāṃśādbhadraḥ kāryo vijānatā

Translation

Ukuran maṇḍapa hendaknya dikalikan menurut bilangan yang sepadan, demikian pula sūtraka (tali ukur). Dari seperempat ukuran maṇḍapa, orang yang mengetahui hendaknya membangun bagian bhadra yang membawa keberkahan.

Word by Word

• मणाडपः: pavilion
• मणाडपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर-दोषसम्भवः: मणाडपः = मण्डपः)

• समसंख्याभिः: by equal numbers
• समसंख्याभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (समाः संख्याः)

• गुणितः: multiplied
• गुणितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सूत्रकः: a cord/line (measuring string)
• सूत्रकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• मण्डपस्य: of the pavilion
• मण्डपस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• चतुर्थांशात्: from the fourth part (one-quarter)
• चतुर्थांशात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थ + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चतुर्थः अंशः)

• भद्रः: the bhadra (a type/feature)
• भद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कार्यः: to be made, should be made
• कार्यः: Kriya (Predicate necessity/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (Gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• विजानता: by one who knows
• विजानता: Karana (Agent-instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचकः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right measure (pramāṇa) and right method (sūtraka) produce ‘bhadra’—auspiciousness and functional harmony.

Vedantic Theme: R̥ta-like order mirrored in built form; sattva cultivated through precision and restraint.

Application: Use consistent units, verify proportional multipliers, and derive sub-measures (one-fourth) carefully; document measurements to avoid cumulative error.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/pavilion architectural space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.34-38 (mandapa and base/pillar prescriptions)

FAQs

What is the importance of mandapa proportions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that ritual spaces should be built with precise proportional measurement, using a measuring cord and defined fractions, to ensure auspiciousness (bhadra) and ritual correctness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey directly; instead, it provides technical guidance for constructing an auspicious ritual/temple space, which supports proper performance of dharmic rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When setting up a puja space or planning a mandapa for ceremonies, follow consistent proportional measurements and keep an “auspicious zone” (bhadra) based on a clear fractional rule, rather than arbitrary layout.