Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

शतशृङ्गसमायुक्तो मेरुः प्रासाद उत्तमः / मण्डपास्तस्य कर्तव्या भद्रैस्त्रिभिरलङ्कृताः

Transliteration

śataśṛṅgasamāyukto meruḥ prāsāda uttamaḥ / maṇḍapāstasya kartavyā bhadraistribhiralaṅkṛtāḥ

Translation

ആ ഉത്തമ പ്രാസാദം ശതശൃംഗങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയ മേരുപർവ്വതംപോലെ; അതിനായി മണ്ഡപങ്ങൾ പണിതു മൂന്നു മംഗളഭദ്രങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• śataśṛṅga-samāyuktaḥ: endowed with a hundred peaks
• śataśṛṅga-samāyuktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + samāyukta (कृदन्त, सम्-आ-युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शतशृङ्गस्य समायुक्तः)

• meruḥ: Meru (mountain)
• meruḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• prāsādaḥ: a palace/temple-structure
• prāsādaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāsāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• uttamaḥ: excellent, best
• uttamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• maṇḍapāḥ: pavilions/halls
• maṇḍapāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• tasya: of it/of him
• tasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• kartavyāḥ: to be made, should be constructed
• kartavyāḥ: Vidhi/Predicate (Obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kartavya (कृदन्त; कृ धातु + तव्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive/obligatory)

• bhadraiḥ: with auspicious (elements)/with bhadras
• bhadraiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• tribhiḥ: with three
• tribhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Numerical qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• alaṅkṛtāḥ: adorned, decorated
• alaṅkṛtāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alaṅkṛta (कृदन्त; अलं-√कृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred architecture should mirror cosmic order and be adorned with auspicious structural elements.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat as ordered manifestation (ṛta) reflected in ritual form; the divine is approached through properly formed symbols.

Application: When commissioning a shrine/temple or ritual pavilion, prioritize auspicious layout (maṇḍapa, bhadra elements) and harmonious proportions to support worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic mountain / idealized sacred architecture

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47 (prāsāda/maṇḍapa-lakṣaṇa context; preceding māna-pramāṇa rules implied by 'pūrvamāna')

Characters & Entities

• Meru

FAQs

What is the importance of Mount Meru symbolism in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, Meru functions as the cosmic ideal of stability and sacred grandeur, setting a divine standard for an “excellent palace” (prāsāda) and its auspicious layout.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: the imagery of an exalted, well-ordered sacred structure reflects the Purana’s broader theme that ritual order and auspicious arrangements support dharmic outcomes and higher states after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing religious observances or building/setting up a worship space, emphasize auspicious structure, cleanliness, and orderly arrangement—symbolically aligning the home or shrine with sacred cosmic order.