Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

वज्रं चक्रं तथान्यच्च मुष्टिकं वभ्रुसंज्ञितम् / वक्रः स्वस्तिकखड्गौ च गदा श्रीवृक्ष एव च

Transliteration

vajraṃ cakraṃ tathānyacca muṣṭikaṃ vabhrusaṃjñitam / vakraḥ svastikakhaḍgau ca gadā śrīvṛkṣa eva ca

Translation

வஜ்ரம், சக்கரம் மற்றும் பிற குறிகள்; ‘வப்ரு’ எனப்படும் முஷ்டி-குறி; ‘வக்ர’ குறி; ஸ்வஸ்திகமும் வாளும்; கதையும் ஸ்ரீவ்ருக்ஷமும் கூட (லட்சணங்களாக) கூறப்படுகின்றன।

Word by Word

• वज्रम्: vajra/thunderbolt
• वज्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चक्रम्: wheel/discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अन्यत्: another (thing)
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• मुष्टिकम्: a fist-shaped object/knuckle-duster (name)
• मुष्टिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वभ्रु-संज्ञितम्: called ‘Vabhru’
• वभ्रु-संज्ञितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वभ्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा (धातु) + सम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (वभ्रुणा संज्ञितम् = called ‘Vabhru’)

• वक्रः: Vakra (a name; ‘crooked’)
• वक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वस्तिक-खड्गौ: Svastīka and Khaḍga (two names)
• स्वस्तिक-खड्गौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (स्वस्तिकः च खड्गः च)

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

• गदा: mace (name)
• गदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्री-वृक्षः: Śrīvṛkṣa (a name)
• श्री-वृक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् वृक्षः/श्रीवृक्षः)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

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

Speaker

Likely Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra), listing auspicious/identifying emblems (lakṣaṇas).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious and protective symbols function as dharmic supports for order, protection, and consecration in ritual space.

Vedantic Theme: Śakti as protective order within manifestation; symbols as ‘pratīka’ supporting focused intention (saṅkalpa).

Application: Employ these marks as protective/auspicious motifs in maṇḍapa/yantra/thresholds, aligning the space with protection and prosperity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.33 (maṇḍapa arrangement and benefits)

FAQs

What is the importance of these symbols (vajra, chakra, gada, svastika) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists named auspicious emblems (lakṣaṇas) used for identifying sacred or meritorious signs; they function as markers of auspiciousness and spiritual distinction in the text’s descriptive framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by cataloging auspicious identifiers, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader method of describing spiritual states through signs and classifications, rather than narrating a specific after-death journey in this line.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to value dharmic symbolism and sacred learning: study traditional meanings of auspicious signs and cultivate merit (puṇya) rather than treating symbols as mere decoration.