Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

मण्डपे मानमेतत्तु स्वरूपं चापरं वदे / त्रैवेदं कारयेत्क्षेत्रं यत्र तिष्ठन्ति देवताः

Transliteration

maṇḍape mānametattu svarūpaṃ cāparaṃ vade / traivedaṃ kārayetkṣetraṃ yatra tiṣṭhanti devatāḥ

Translation

Kini akan aku nyatakan ukuran bagi maṇḍapa (balai suci) dan juga menghuraikan ciri-ciri lainnya. Hendaklah dibina suatu kawasan suci menurut tata cara Tiga Veda, kerana di sanalah para dewa bersemayam.

Word by Word

• मण्डपे: in the maṇḍapa
• मण्डपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in the pavilion/maṇḍapa’

• मानम्: measure
• मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘measure’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘this’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• स्वरूपम्: (its) form/nature
• स्वरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + रूप (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य रूपम्’ = its own form/nature

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

• अपरम्: another/other
• अपरम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘other/another’; qualifies स्वरूपम् (another form)

• वदे: I state
• वदे: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘I say’

• त्रैवेदम्: tri-vedic / of the three Vedas
• त्रैवेदम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + वेद (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘त्रयो वेदाः’ (three Vedas) → ‘pertaining to three Vedas’; विशेषण of क्षेत्रम्

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) (णिच् causative: कारय)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): ‘should cause to be made’

• क्षेत्रम्: the sacred area/field
• क्षेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘field/sacred precinct’

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location marker/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय/स्थानवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• तिष्ठन्ति: abide/stand
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘stand/abide’

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘deities’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred space must be constructed in harmony with the three Vedas; right form invites divine presence (devatā-adhivāsa).

Vedantic Theme: Iśvara-sannidhya through dharmic action: the divine is approached via ordered ritual space; unity of śruti (Veda) and karma (construction/ritual).

Application: When creating worship spaces, align design and procedure with authoritative tradition; treat the site as a consecrated field—maintain purity, orientation, and ritual readiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple pavilion/sacred precinct

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47 (mandapa measurements and features to follow)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of constructing a Vedic-compliant maṇḍapa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the ritual pavilion and its sacred area should follow Vedic prescription, because the rite is understood to become a proper seat for divine presence only when performed in a duly prepared kṣetra.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

It frames the practical setup of the ritual space—measurements and proper form—before conducting ceremonies, indicating that correct external arrangement supports correct invocation and performance of dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing pūjā, śrāddha, or any solemn rite, prioritize a clean, well-defined sacred space and follow traditional procedure as closely as possible, treating the setting as integral to reverence and focus.