Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

चतुरश्राः समुद्भूता वैराजादिति गम्यताम् / वलभी गृहराजश्च शा लागृहं च मन्दिरम्

Transliteration

caturaśrāḥ samudbhūtā vairājāditi gamyatām / valabhī gṛharājaśca śā lāgṛhaṃ ca mandiram

Translation

चतुरश्राः प्रकारा वैराजादेव समुद्भूताः—वलभी गृहराजश्च शालागृहं च मन्दिरं च; इति ज्ञेयम्।

Word by Word

• चतुरश्राः: four-sided
• चतुरश्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुरश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (four-cornered/square)

• समुद्भूताः: arisen
• समुद्भूताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+उद्+√भू (धातु) → समुद्भूत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (arisen/originated)

• वैराजात्: from Vairāja
• वैराजात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक

• गम्यताम्: let it be understood
• गम्यताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'let it be understood/known'

• वलभी: Valabhī (name)
• वलभी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वलभी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गृहराजः: Gṛharāja (name/‘chief house’)
• गृहराजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह-राज (प्रातिपदिक; गृह + राज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गृहराज = king of houses / chief house)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• शाला: hall/house
• शाला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गृहं: house
• गृहं: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• मन्दिरम्: mansion/temple
• मन्दिरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: architectural forms arise from cosmic archetypes (Virāja).

Vedantic Theme: Virāṭ as the manifest totality; human order mirrors cosmic order (bandhu).

Application: Approach building/design as ethical-sacred craft: align spaces with harmony, proportion, and purpose; treat home/temple as a site for sattvic living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: built-space typology (vāstu)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47 (vāstu/typology sequence: origins and categories)

Characters & Entities

• Viraja (Virāja)

FAQs

What is the importance of Virāja in this Garuda Purana verse?

Virāja is presented as the cosmic source from which these four principal dwelling-forms are said to originate, giving sacred legitimacy to traditional architectural classifications.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond afterlife topics?

It shows that Garuda Purana also preserves dharma-oriented knowledge such as traditional classifications of residences and sacred architecture, not only death rites and the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a scriptural reference for understanding classical Sanskrit terms for house-forms when studying Vāstu/heritage architecture, ensuring terminology is preserved accurately in documentation and design notes.