Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

नाट्यशाला च कर्तव्या द्वारदेशसमाश्रया / प्रसादे देवतानां च कार्या दिक्षु विदिक्ष्वपि

Transliteration

nāṭyaśālā ca kartavyā dvāradeśasamāśrayā / prasāde devatānāṃ ca kāryā dikṣu vidikṣvapi

Translation

Hendaklah juga didirikan sebuah nāṭyaśālā, balai tari dan drama, yang bersandar pada kawasan pintu gerbang. Dan di dalam kompleks kuil, hendaklah dibina tempat suci bagi para dewa pada segala arah, termasuk arah antara (penjuru).

Word by Word

• नाट्य-शाला: a theatre-hall
• नाट्य-शाला: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाट्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कर्तव्या: should be made
• कर्तव्या: Vidhi (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त, विधेय/gerundive)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘to be made’ (gerundive, fem. nom. sg.)

• द्वार-देश-समाश्रया: situated near the doorway area
• द्वार-देश-समाश्रया: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + समाश्रित/समाश्रय (कृदन्त, √श्रि ‘to resort’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• प्रसादे: in the temple/palace
• प्रसादे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (loc. sg.)

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (gen. pl.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कार्या: should be made
• कार्या: Vidhi (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त, विधेय/gerundive)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘to be made’ (gerundive, fem. nom. sg.)

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन (loc. pl.)

• विदिक्षु: in the intermediate directions
• विदिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन (loc. pl.)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (Also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: also/even)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A sacred site is made ritually whole by proper ancillary structures (natyashala) and directional deity placements.

Vedantic Theme: Many-deity arrangement within an overarching theistic frame—ritual plurality supporting unified devotion.

Application: In temple planning, place functional halls near thresholds and establish directional shrines to support worship, protection, and festival performance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: gateway/threshold and shrine-complex

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.44 (mandapa and pavilion setup); Garuda Purana 1.47.46 (gatekeepers and monasteries); Garuda Purana 1.47.47 (worship and Vāsudeva as all gods)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Devatas

FAQs

What is the importance of a nāṭyaśālā (theatre hall) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the nāṭyaśālā as a legitimate part of the sacred complex—meant to support devotional, cultural, and ritual performance—placed appropriately near the gateway rather than inside the sanctum area.

How does this verse explain the use of directions (dik and vidik) in temple planning?

It prescribes establishing devatā-spaces not only in the four main directions but also in the intermediate directions, reflecting the Purāṇic/Vāstu idea that sacred order is mapped onto space through directional placement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When designing or renovating a temple/community spiritual center, allocate dedicated spaces for devotional arts and ensure shrine placement respects directional planning—supporting both worship and community dharmic life.