Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 12
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
तिर्यगूर्ध्वं समं खाताद्वहिरर्धन्तु शोधयेत् अङ्गुलस्य चतुर्थांशं शेषार्धार्धं तथान्ततः
tiryagūrdhvaṃ samaṃ khātādvahirardhantu śodhayet aṅgulasya caturthāṃśaṃ śeṣārdhārdhaṃ tathāntataḥ
ابتداءً من الخطّ المحفور (الخندق/الحفرة)، ينبغي إتمام التسوية وتقويم الخارج بمقدارٍ متساوٍ أفقياً وعمودياً، مع إزالة النتوءات إلى حدّ النصف. ثم يُنقص من الأنغولة ربعُها، وأخيرًا يُخفَّض الباقي مرةً أخرى إلى النصف.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Finishing and truing rules for excavation: equalizing horizontal/vertical lines, removing half of irregularities, then fine reduction by quarter-aṅgula and successive halving for precise final dimensions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kuṇḍa Excavation Finishing: Truing, Quarter-Aṅgula Trimming, Successive Halving","lookup_keywords":["khātā (excavation)","tiryag-ūrdhva sama","śodhana (truing)","aṅgula-caturthāṃśa","ardhārdha"],"quick_summary":"After digging, true the outer lines evenly in horizontal and vertical planes; remove irregularities by half, then refine by trimming a quarter of an aṅgula and finally halving the remainder for exact finish."}
Concept: Saṃskāra (refinement) proceeds by successive approximation—coarse correction followed by fine trimming.
Application: Apply staged finishing passes in construction: first correct major deviations, then use small-unit trimming (quarter-aṅgula) and final halving to reach precise tolerances.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Architectural measurement and excavation rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Workers true the pit edges with plumb and level lines; a master measures an aṅgula scale, marks a quarter-aṅgula trim, and demonstrates successive halving to refine the final boundary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, craftsmen smoothing pit walls, priest-architect holding a measuring scale, horizontal and vertical guide lines drawn, emphasis on disciplined finishing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on measuring scale and guide lines, master indicating quarter-aṅgula trimming, assistants smoothing edges, ornate border framing a technical scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional cross-section: horizontal/vertical truing, annotations for half-removal and quarter-aṅgula trim, final halving step shown as sequential panels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed tools (plumb bob, straightedge), master draftsman marking quarter-aṅgula on a scale, workers shaving the rim, refined architectural realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तिर्यगूर्ध्वम् = तिर्यक् + ऊर्ध्वम् (द्वन्द्व); खाताद्वहिरर्धन्तु = खातात् + वहिः + अर्धम् + तु; चतुर्थांशम् = चतुर्थ + अंशम्; शेषार्धार्धम् = शेष + अर्ध + अर्ध; तथान्ततः = तथा + अन्ततः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (post-excavation finishing and measurement corrections)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-śāstra rule for finishing an excavation: the outer edges are to be made uniform in horizontal and vertical planes, using fractional reductions (half, then a quarter of an aṅgula, then halving the remainder) to achieve precise truing and leveling.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied technical standards—here, construction metrology and workmanship—showing it functions as a compendium that includes architecture, measurement units, and procedural rules alongside ritual and mythic material.
In Vāstu thought, precise, well-leveled construction is a form of śuddhi (purificatory correctness) that prevents doṣa (structural/ritual faults) and supports auspiciousness in the resulting dwelling or sacred structure.