Shloka 1

Vāstu-pūjā, Vāstu-maṇḍala Deities, Site Computations, and Doorway/Tree Prescriptions

Devanagari script

नाम पञ्चचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / वास्तुं संक्षेपतो वक्ष्ये गृहादौ विघ्ननाशनम् / ईसानकोणादारभ्य ह्येकाशीतिपदे यजेत्

Transliteration

nāma pañcacatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / vāstuṃ saṃkṣepato vakṣye gṛhādau vighnanāśanam / īsānakoṇādārabhya hyekāśītipade yajet

Translation

Hari bersabda: “Aku akan menerangkan secara ringkas prinsip Vāstu untuk melenyapkan halangan di rumah dan bangunan lain. Bermula dari penjuru Īśāna (timur laut), hendaklah dilakukan pemujaan pada lapan puluh satu petak (pada).”

Word by Word

• नाम: named/entitled
• नाम: Sambandha (Labeling/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; 'called/namely')

• पञ्चचत्वारिंशः: forty-fifth
• पञ्चचत्वारिंशः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + चत्वारिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक/संख्यावाचक विशेषण (45th)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वास्तुम्: Vāstu (site/architectural rite)
• वास्तुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संक्षेपतः: briefly
• संक्षेपतः: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संक्षेपतः (अव्यय; from संक्षेप)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वक्ष्ये: I will explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गृहादौ: in a house etc. (in buildings, etc.)
• गृहादौ: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणार्थ (locative)

• विघ्ननाशनम्: removal of obstacles
• विघ्ननाशनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईसानकोणात्: from the Īśāna corner (northeast)
• ईसानकोणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• आरभ्य: beginning from
• आरभ्य: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ+रभ् (धातु) → आरभ्य (क्त्वा/ल्यप्-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कृदन्त-अव्यय (gerund/ल्यप्)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• एकाशीतिपदे: at the eighty-first position/step
• एकाशीतिपदे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाशीति (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vastu as dharmic ordering of space: ritual worship of the mandala positions harmonizes forces and removes obstacles in domestic/architectural life.

Vedantic Theme: Rta/order reflected in lived environment: aligning microcosm (home) with macrocosm (cosmic directions/mandala) supports sattva and steadiness of mind.

Application: For new construction/renovation or moving in, begin sanctification from the northeast; perform a simplified vastu-puja/mandala worship (as per tradition/competent priest) to reduce conflict, instability, and practical hindrances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: architectural-space/mandala-grid

Cross References

Related Themes: This verse inaugurates the Vastu chapter (panchachatvarimsho ’dhyayah), linking back to 1.45.34’s vastu-pujita prasada; later verses in the chapter typically detail padadevata and offerings (implied).

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Īśāna (directional deity concept)

FAQs

What is the importance of vāstu (household space-order) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames vāstu as a practical dharmic method for vighna-nāśana—removing impediments affecting a home and related structures—through ordered worship tied to the vāstu-maṇḍala.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey here; instead, it shifts to household ritual order, showing that the Purana also teaches conduct and remedial rites alongside afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing a traditional vāstu-śānti or gṛha-śānti, begin the worship sequence from the north-east (Īśāna) and follow a structured maṇḍala-based approach rather than random offerings.