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

മണ്ഡപത്തിന്റെ പരിമാണം സമസംഖ്യാനുപാതത്തിൽ ഗുണിക്കണം; സൂത്രകവും അതുപോലെ. മണ്ഡപപരിമാണത്തിന്റെ നാലിലൊന്നിൽ നിന്ന് ജ്ഞാനി ഭദ്ര (മംഗള) ഭാഗം നിർമ്മിക്കണം.

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.