Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

नाम षट्चत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / प्रासादानां लक्षणं च वक्ष्ये शौनक तच्छृणु / चतुः षष्टिपदं कृत्वा दिग्विदिक्षूपलक्षितम्

Transliteration

nāma ṣaṭcatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / prāsādānāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ ca vakṣye śaunaka tacchṛṇu / catuḥ ṣaṣṭipadaṃ kṛtvā digvidikṣūpalakṣitam

Translation

Sūta berkata: “Kini (bermula) bab keempat puluh tujuh. Wahai Śaunaka, dengarlah ketika aku menghuraikan tanda-tanda penentu prāsāda (kuil/mahligai). Setelah dibentangkan pelan enam puluh empat petak, hendaklah ia ditandai menurut arah utama dan arah antara.”

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संज्ञा/उपपद (title-marker: ‘named’)

• षट्चत्वारिंशः: forty-sixth
• षट्चत्वारिंशः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक) + चत्वारिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (षट् + चत्वारिंशत् = 46)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• प्रासादानाम्: of palaces/temple-buildings
• प्रासादानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• लक्षणम्: characteristics/definition
• लक्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

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

• शौनक: O Śaunaka
• शौनक: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चतुःषष्टिपदम्: a sixty-four-unit measure (pada)
• चतुःषष्टिपदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुःषष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चतुःषष्टेः पदम् = a 64-unit measure/footing)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having made

• दिग्विदिक्षु: in the directions and intermediate directions
• दिग्विदिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + विदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (दिक्षु च विदिक्षु च = in the directions and intermediate directions)

• उपलक्षितम्: marked/indicated
• उपलक्षितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + लक्ष् (धातु) → उपलक्षित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘चतुःषष्टिपदम्’ इति विशेषण (marked/characterized)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Temple construction is a dharmic science: begin with a properly oriented, direction-marked 64-square plan.

Vedantic Theme: Manifest order (nāma-rūpa) is to be arranged in harmony with cosmic principles; sacred architecture as a support for bhakti and communal dharma.

Application: Before building, establish orientation, draw the 8-direction grid, and lay out a 64-pada mandala as the design basis.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple plan (mandala grid)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.46 (directional divisions and door results); Garuda Purana 1.47.2-3 (structural counts and proportions)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Śaunaka

FAQs

What is the importance of the 64-square (catuḥ-ṣaṣṭipada) grid in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces the architectural method of using a sixty-four-square mandala as the foundational layout for a prāsāda, ensuring an ordered and directionally aligned sacred plan.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey here; instead, it shifts to Vāstu/temple-architecture guidance, framing sacred construction as a dhārmic, rule-based practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When designing or renovating a temple/shrine space, use a clear geometric plan and maintain correct orientation to directions—prioritizing order, alignment, and intentional sacred layout.