Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 35
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
न तस्य फलसम्पत्तिर्वक्तुं शक्येत केनचित् अनेनैवानुमेयं हि फलं प्रासादविस्तरात्
na tasya phalasampattirvaktuṃ śakyeta kenacit anenaivānumeyaṃ hi phalaṃ prāsādavistarāt
لا يستطيع أحد أن يصف تمامًا وفرة ثمراته؛ حقًّا إنّ الثواب يُستدلّ عليه من هذا وحده، أي من سعة prāsāda (المعبد/البناء المقدّس) واتساعه.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Using temple scale/extent as a proxy for estimating the religious merit (puṇya) attributed to construction and patronage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Phala-anumāna from Prāsāda-vistāra (Merit inferred from temple scale)","lookup_keywords":["prāsāda-vistāra","phala","puṇya","anumāna","prāsāda-phala"],"quick_summary":"The verse states that the full reward of temple-building is beyond complete verbal description; one may infer the magnitude of merit from the temple’s extent/scale."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti (hyperbole)
Concept: Karmaphala is immeasurable in speech; magnitude can be inferred from the scale of dhārmic action (temple-building).
Application: In patronage decisions, treat larger, well-executed sacred construction as carrying proportionally greater religious merit, while acknowledging merit ultimately exceeds enumeration.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa (Temple Architecture and Measurements)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shraddha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand temple complex shown in expanding scale, with patrons and artisans; a sage indicates that the merit is inferred from the temple’s vastness rather than fully spoken.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, wide prāsāda with layered roofs, priests and donors in traditional attire, a seated ṛṣi gesturing to the temple’s vast extent, warm earthy palette, sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central towering prāsāda with gold-leaf highlights, donors offering lamps and flowers, ornate borders, emphasis on grandeur and auspicious merit","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: architect and patron measuring the temple footprint, subtle inscriptions indicating ‘phala inferred from vistāra’, delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic temple construction scene with craftsmen, patrons, and a learned figure pointing to the completed large shrine, fine architectural detailing and courtly composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: फलसम्पत्तिः = फल-सम्पत्तिः; वक्तुं; अनेनैव = अनेन + एव; प्रासादविस्तरात् = प्रासाद-विस्तरात्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa context); Agni Purana 42 (Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa begins immediately after)
FAQs
It teaches a Vāstu/ritual principle: the spiritual reward (phala) of building or sponsoring a prāsāda is proportionate to its vistarā (scale/extent), and the full measure of that merit is beyond verbal enumeration.
By linking architectural parameters (temple extent/measure) with karmic outcomes (phala), it shows how the Agni Purana integrates Vāstu-śāstra, ritual practice, and dharmic merit—typical of its wide, encyclopedic scope.
It frames temple construction as a high-merit act whose rewards are vast and scale with the magnitude of the sacred work, encouraging generous, well-executed religious building as a means of accruing puṇya.