Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

त्रिविष्टपं च पञ्चैते प्रासादाः सर्वयोनयः / प्रथमश्चतुरश्रो हि द्वितीयस्तु तदायतः

Transliteration

triviṣṭapaṃ ca pañcaite prāsādāḥ sarvayonayaḥ / prathamaścaturaśro hi dvitīyastu tadāyataḥ

Translation

Inilah lima prāsāda samawi yang dikenali sebagai Triviṣṭapa, sumber bagi segala jenis yoni. Yang pertama berbentuk empat sisi (segi empat sama), manakala yang kedua serupa tetapi memanjang (segi empat tepat).

Word by Word

• त्रिविष्टपम्: Triviṣṭapa (name)
• त्रिविष्टपम्: Karta (Member of list/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविष्टप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Quantifier/संख्या-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या; अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रासादाः: palaces/temples
• प्रासादाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वयोनयः: of all types
• सर्वयोनयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘सर्वा योनिः येषाम्’ (all types/origins)

• प्रथमः: the first
• प्रथमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (ordinal used substantively)

• चतुरश्रः: square (four-cornered)
• चतुरश्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुरश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis/Reason-giving)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, explanatory)

• द्वितीयः: the second
• द्वितीयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (ordinal used substantively)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrastive particle)

• तदायतः: elongated accordingly
• तदायतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘तद्-आयतः’ (elongated like that/rectangular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, as per the common dialogue frame of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Archetypal forms generate manifold structures; geometry as a bridge between celestial ideal and earthly construction.

Vedantic Theme: From subtle archetype to gross manifestation (sūkṣma→sthūla); ordered multiplicity arising from foundational patterns.

Application: Select a base plan (square/rectangular) aligned with site constraints and ritual circulation; treat the plan as the generative seed for the whole elevation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial mansion archetype

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.23 (circular, oval, octagonal); Garuda Purana 1.47.21 (named prāsādas)

Characters & Entities

• Triviṣṭapa

FAQs

What is the importance of Triviṣṭapa in the Garuda Purana?

Here Triviṣṭapa is presented as one among five celestial abodes, described as a higher-world realm and a generative ‘source’ (yoni) in the Purāṇic cosmological scheme.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By mapping specific higher abodes and their characteristics, the verse supports the Garuda Purana’s broader narrative that the soul’s post-death trajectory can culminate in distinct lokas depending on merit and spiritual condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that actions and discipline shape one’s destination; cultivate dharma, charity, and devotion so that one’s post-death course trends toward higher realms rather than lower states.