Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

द्विगुणं शिखरं प्रोक्तं जङ्घायाश्चैव शौनक / पीठगर्भावरं कर्म तन्मानेन शुकाङ्घ्रिकम्

Transliteration

dviguṇaṃ śikharaṃ proktaṃ jaṅghāyāścaiva śaunaka / pīṭhagarbhāvaraṃ karma tanmānena śukāṅghrikam

Translation

Wahai Śaunaka, śikhara (puncak/rabung atas) dikatakan berukuran dua kali ganda, dan demikian juga bahagian jaṅghā. Amalan yang dinamai pīṭha-garbha-āvara hendaklah dilakukan menurut ukuran itu, dibentuk seperti jejak kaki burung nuri.

Word by Word

• द्वि: two
• द्वि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासपूर्वाङ्ग (‘गुण’ इत्यनेन सह)

• गुणम्: double
• गुणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (द्विगुण); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘शिखरम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• शिखरम्: the spire/top
• शिखरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम्

• जङ्घायाः: of the jaṅghā (middle section)
• जङ्घायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic: indeed/just)

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

• पीठ: pedestal/base
• पीठ: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘गर्भ’ इत्यनेन सह

• गर्भ: garbha (inner part)
• गर्भ: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘अवर’ इत्यनेन सह

• अवरम्: lower (portion)
• अवरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण: ‘पीठगर्भयोः अवरम्’ = lower part related to pīṭha & garbha); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्म’ इति विशेषणम्

• कर्म: the work/operation (construction step)
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘मान’ इत्यनेन सह (तन्मानेन)

• मानेन: by that measure
• मानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘तस्य मानेन’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• शुक: parrot
• शुक: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘अङ्घ्रि’ इत्यनेन सह

• अङ्घ्रिकम्: parrot-footed (type/name of design)
• अङ्घ्रिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित) → अङ्घ्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘शुकस्य अङ्घ्रिकम्’ = like a parrot’s foot/footed); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्म’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) addressing Śaunaka (framing dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred architecture unites strict proportion with meaningful ornament; named procedures encode tradition.

Vedantic Theme: Unity of rule (vidhi) and beauty (śobha) as dharmic expression; form as a carrier of meaning.

Application: Set śikhara and the specified member at double measure relative to the jaṅghā; perform the pīṭha-garbha-āvara operation according to that measure, shaping it like a parrot’s foot.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple superstructure (śikhara) and base enclosure detailing

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.11-12 (liṅga/pīṭha and jaṅghā proportions)

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka

FAQs

What is the importance of precise measurements in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes that specific proportions (e.g., ‘twice the measure’) are integral to correct performance of a prescribed rite, indicating that ritual efficacy is tied to śāstric precision.

How does this verse relate to the broader Garuda Purana teachings?

Within the Ācāra (conduct/ritual) context, it illustrates procedural detail—how a particular ritual component is shaped and proportioned—showing the text’s concern with correct method alongside doctrine.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing traditional rites, follow an authentic practitioner or manual that preserves the correct proportions; more broadly, it teaches care, discipline, and fidelity to method in sacred duties.