Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्दिक्षु तथा ज्ञेयो निर्गमस्तुः तथा बुधैः / पञ्चभागेन संभज्य गर्भमानं विचक्षणः

Transliteration

caturdikṣu tathā jñeyo nirgamastuḥ tathā budhaiḥ / pañcabhāgena saṃbhajya garbhamānaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Os sábios devem igualmente compreender as saídas nas quatro direções. O discernente deve dividir a medida do garbha (santuário interno) em cinco partes e determiná-la conforme isso.

Word by Word

• चतुर्: four
• चतुर्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-पूर्वपद (पूर्वपद), समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘दिक्’ इत्यनेन सह समासे प्रयुक्तम्

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद/समुच्चयार्थ-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• ज्ञेयः: to be known; should be determined
• ज्ञेयः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय, विधेय/gerundive), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• निर्गमः: the exit/egress (measure/point)
• निर्गमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर् + गम् (धातु) → निर्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• बुधैः: by the wise (persons)
• बुधैः: Karana/Agentive (Instrument/कर्ता-निर्देशक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासपूर्वाङ्ग (भागेन इत्यनेन सह)

• भागेन: by a part/portion
• भागेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• संभज्य: having divided/apportioned
• संभज्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + भज् (धातु) → संभज्य (क्त्वा-ल्यप्/अव्ययीभाव-भाव)
• Form: कृदन्त अव्यय; ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having divided/apportioned)

• गर्भमानम्: the measure of the garbha (inner sanctum)
• गर्भमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘गर्भस्य मानम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विचक्षणः: the expert; the discerning one
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred order (ṛta) expressed through correct proportion and directional alignment in consecrated architecture.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of microcosm and macrocosm through niyama (rule) and saṃkhyā (measure).

Application: When planning a shrine/structure, mark the four directional outlets and divide the garbha-measure into five equal parts before fixing projections.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/architectural plan-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.10-13 (continuation of prāsāda/garbha measurements)

FAQs

What is the importance of garbha-māna (womb measurement) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse points to a traditional, technical method: understanding directional ‘outlets’ and calculating the womb’s measure by dividing it into five parts, indicating a structured approach to sacred anatomy/embryological description.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to a technical passage on embodiment (garbha-related measures), which forms the background for how the Purana explains entry into and experience within a physical body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that the text treats birth and embodiment with precision and reverence—encouraging ethical living, bodily discipline, and respect for life’s formative stages.