Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

गृहान्तराणि सर्वाणि सजलैः कदलीगृहैः / पञ्चवर्णैश्च कुसुमैः शोभितानि प्रकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

gṛhāntarāṇi sarvāṇi sajalaiḥ kadalīgṛhaiḥ / pañcavarṇaiśca kusumaiḥ śobhitāni prakalpayet

Translation

Hendaklah diatur dan dihias semua ruang dalam rumah dengan binaan daripada batang pisang yang lembap, serta diperindah dengan bunga lima warna.

Word by Word

• गृहान्तराणि: inner rooms/inner houses
• गृहान्तराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गृहस्य अन्तरम्)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गृहान्तराणि)

• सजलैः: with water; water-filled
• सजलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (जलेन सह = जलयुक्तैः)

• कदलीगृहैः: banana-leaf huts/banana structures
• कदलीगृहैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदली + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कदल्या निर्मितं/कदलीसम्बद्धं गृहं)

• पञ्चवर्णैः: of five colors
• पञ्चवर्णैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च वर्णाः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शोभितानि: decorated, adorned
• शोभितानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गृहान्तराणि)

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External śobhana (beautification) supports internal bhāva; offering beauty and freshness to the divine and to dharmic rites.

Vedantic Theme: Upacāra-bhakti: using sensory purity (gandha, varṇa, sparśa) to steady the mind toward the sacred.

Application: For worship/ritual occasions, keep interiors clean and adorned with fresh, ethically sourced flowers; use natural décor that signals reverence and care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: interior ritual-architectural space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.46.17 (guest-house provisioning); Garuda Purana 1.46.19 (enclosure and groves)

FAQs

What is the importance of decorating the house in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes preparing the household space in a clean, fresh, and auspicious manner—using banana-stalk arrangements and multi-colored flowers—as part of proper observance of death-related rites and associated ceremonies.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it focuses on correct external ritual preparation, which in the Garuda Purana is presented as supportive to dharmic observance around death and the well-being of the departed through prescribed rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and a calm, respectful, auspicious environment during memorial or śrāddha observances; use simple natural decorations (like leaves and flowers) to mark the ritual space with reverence.