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Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

गर्भं तु द्विगुणं कुर्यान्नेम्या मानं भवेदिह / स एव भित्तेरुत्सेधो शिखरो द्विगुणो मतः

Transliteration

garbhaṃ tu dviguṇaṃ kuryānnemyā mānaṃ bhavediha / sa eva bhitterutsedho śikharo dviguṇo mataḥ

Translation

ここでは内陣の胎室（ガルバ）を、回廊（ネーミ）の寸法の二倍に作るべきである。その同じ寸法を壁の高さと定め、塔頂（シिखरा）はさらにその二倍と見なされる。

Word by Word
गर्भम्the inner chamber/womb (garbha)
गर्भम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन
तुbut, indeed
तु:
Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (particle)
द्विगुणम्double, twofold
द्विगुणम्:
Karma (Object complement/कर्मपूरक)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वि (संख्या) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (twofold)
कुर्यात्should make
कुर्यात्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष? (actually 3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
नेम्याby/with the nemi (rim measure)
नेम्या:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootनेमि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन
मानम्the measure
मानम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन
भवेत्should be
भवेत्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
इहhere
इह:
Desha-adhikarana (Locative sense/देशाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)
सःthat
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
एवindeed, exactly
एव:
Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)
भित्तेःof the wall
भित्तेः:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootभित्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
उत्सेधःheight, elevation
उत्सेधः:
Karta (Subject complement/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootउत्सेध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
शिखरःthe spire/top
शिखरः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
द्विगुणःdouble
द्विगुणः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वि (संख्या) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः
मतःis considered
मतः:
Kriya-visheshana (Predicative qualifier/विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमत (मन् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (considered)
Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inner sanctity governs outer form: the garbha’s measure determines walls and the rising śikhara.

Vedantic Theme: Antar–bahir correspondence (inner–outer alignment); ascent from center to summit as a contemplative metaphor.

Application: Design temples with a clear proportional system: garbha dimension relative to circumambulatory passage; wall height consistent; śikhara scaled to emphasize vertical transcendence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: garbhagṛha/prāsāda

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.19 (nemī and perimeter); Garuda Purana 1.47.21-23 (yoni-types and prāsāda forms)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse sets proportional rules: the sanctum (garbha) should be twice the circumambulatory measure (nemī), establishing harmony and correctness in sacred construction.

It states that the wall height should match the same standard measure used above, while the śikhara (spire) should be built at twice that height, creating a clear vertical hierarchy.

When designing or renovating a shrine, use consistent proportional planning—especially for sanctum size, wall height, and spire height—to preserve traditional Vāstu-based sacred geometry.

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