Shloka 25

Vāstu-pūjā, Vāstu-maṇḍala Deities, Site Computations, and Doorway/Tree Prescriptions

Devanagari script

आकाशे गन्धमाली स्यात्क्षेत्रपालांस्ततो यजेत् / विस्ताराभिहतं दैर्घ्यं राशिं वास्तोस्तु कारयेत्

Transliteration

ākāśe gandhamālī syātkṣetrapālāṃstato yajet / vistārābhihataṃ dairghyaṃ rāśiṃ vāstostu kārayet

Translation

No espaço aberto acima, deve-se colocar uma grinalda perfumada como oferenda; depois, venerar os Kṣetrapālas, guardiões do lugar. Para o rito de Vāstu, prepare-se um monte ou medida obtida ao multiplicar o comprimento pela largura (medida da área).

Word by Word

• ākāśe: in the sky/space
• ākāśe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• gandha-mālī: Gandhamālī (name)
• gandha-mālī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (one having a garland of fragrance)

• syāt: should be/is to be
• syāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; भावे/कर्तरि

• kṣetrapālān: the guardians (kṣetrapālas)
• kṣetrapālān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (guardians of the field)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: then)

• yajet: should worship/sacrifice to
• yajet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तरि

• vistāra-abhihatam: multiplied by the breadth
• vistāra-abhihatam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vistāra (प्रातिपदिक) + abhihata (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (multiplied by the breadth)

• dairghyam: length
• dairghyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dairghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• rāśim: the quantity/heap (result)
• rāśim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vāstoḥ: of the site/dwelling
• vāstoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāstu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक निपात (particle)

• kārayet: should cause to be done/should compute
• kārayet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) [णिच् causative: kāray-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and spatial order: offerings plus guardian-worship and accurate measurement harmonize human activity with cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as alignment of action with order; sacred space as a support for sattva and devotion.

Application: Before building/renovation or major household rites: perform a simple offering, honor the ‘guardians’ (community, environment, tradition), and follow precise planning/measurement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space / construction site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.46.26 (division into shares; continuation of vāstu procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapālas (site guardians)
• Vāstu (site deity/rite)

FAQs

What is the importance of Kṣetrapāla worship in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse places Kṣetrapāla worship immediately before the Vāstu procedure, indicating that honoring the site’s guardians is a prerequisite for removing obstacles and ritually securing the land.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey; it belongs to the Ācāra/Vāstu instructions, focusing on correct ritual conduct for a site rather than afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before beginning construction or consecration, perform a simple respectful offering (flowers/fragrance) and a brief prayer to local guardians/deities, and follow careful measurement and planning rather than haste.