Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 5
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
जायते तत्र कर्तव्यं भद्रस्वेदकरं शुभम् वसुभक्तेन्दु द्विपदे क्षेत्रे वीथी च भागिका
jāyate tatra kartavyaṃ bhadrasvedakaraṃ śubham vasubhaktendu dvipade kṣetre vīthī ca bhāgikā
وفيه ينبغي إنشاء ما هو ميمون ومُولِّد للرفاه (bhadra)، يجلب البرودة والراحة ويُذهب وهج الحرّ. وفي حقلٍ مقداره «پادا» اثنان، يجب أن يشتمل التخطيط على vīthī (الشارع الرئيس/الجادة) وعلى bhāgikā (تقسيم الحصص أو القطع)، وفق نسب أنواع vasu وbhakta وindu.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Planning a settlement/field layout with streets and plot-division using prescribed proportional modules (vasu/bhakta/indu), aiming at comfort (cooling, well-being) and auspiciousness.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vīthī–Bhāgikā Vinyāsa in a Two-Pada Kṣetra (Vasu/Bhakta/Indu Proportions)","lookup_keywords":["vīthī","bhāgikā","dvipada-kṣetra","vasu-bhakta-indu","land-planning"],"quick_summary":"In a two-pada measured field, establish a main avenue (vīthī) and proportional plot divisions (bhāgikā) according to named modules, prioritizing auspiciousness and thermal comfort."}
Concept: Built space should serve loka-hita: auspiciousness, equitable division, and bodily comfort are dharmic aims of planning.
Application: When laying out villages/quarters/fields, include a primary thoroughfare and fair plot shares; adopt proportion systems to standardize widths, spacing, and ventilation.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Kshetra/Vithi-Vinyasa and Land-Planning)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A planned two-pada field shown as a gridded layout: a central/main street (vīthī) running through, plots divided into shares (bhāgikā), with design features suggesting cooling—trees, water channel, shaded arcades.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; schematic town/field plan with bold lines; vīthī highlighted; plots in rhythmic blocks; stylized trees and water for cooling; auspicious symbols at entrances; warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; decorative aerial plan with gold accents on the main avenue and plot borders; lush trees and a small tank; auspicious kalasha motifs; rich reds/greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; instructional urban-plan illustration: labeled vīthī and bhāgikā; proportional modules (vasu/bhakta/indu) indicated as measurement bars; clean, readable geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; bird’s-eye view of an estate with a straight avenue, subdivided garden-like plots, water rills, and shaded pavilions; fine detailing of trees and pathways."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhadrasvedakaraṃ → bhadra-sveda-karam; vasubhaktendu appears as a compound/technical term (reading uncertain); dvipade is dvigu (dvi+pada).
Related Themes: Agni Purana vāstu sections on vīthī-vinyāsa, kṣetra-māna, and bhāga-vibhāga (adjacent material)
FAQs
It gives a Vastu-shastra rule for planning a plot: in a two-pada field, provide a vīthī (street/avenue) and divide the land into bhāgikā (shares/plots) using named proportional schemes (vasu/bhakta/indu).
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical architectural science—standard measures, proportional canons, and urban/plot layout—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium of applied knowledge like Vastu and civil planning.
Designing a dwelling/settlement as śubha and bhadra is treated as dharmic: correct, auspicious planning is believed to support prosperity, comfort, and harmonious living conditions for occupants.