Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 30

Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare

Devanagari script

निस्थाणुवृक्षकेदारा रथभूमिरकर्दमा मर्दनीयतरुच्छेद्यव्रततीपङ्कवर्जिता

Transliteration

nisthāṇuvṛkṣakedārā rathabhūmirakardamā mardanīyatarucchedyavratatīpaṅkavarjitā

Translation

الموضعُ الصالح هو الخالي من جذوع الأشجار وبقاياها ومن الأشجار المُعيقة، غيرُ مُقطَّعٍ بسدود السقي وحواجز الحقول؛ أرضُه صلبةٌ تصلح لمرور العجلات، غيرُ موحلة، مستويةٌ أو قابلةٌ للدكّ، لا شجرَ فيها يجب قطعه، وخاليةٌ من تلال النمل الأبيض، والحوافّ الشديدة الانحدار، والمستنقعات الطينية.

Word by Word

• नि-स्थाणु-वृक्ष-केदारा: having fields without stumps/trees
• नि-स्थाणु-वृक्ष-केदारा: विशेषण (Adjectival to रथभूमिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्थाणु (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + केदार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; (नि- = ‘without’)

• रथ-भूमिः: chariot-ground; land fit for chariots
• रथ-भूमिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अ-कर्दमा: not muddy
• अ-कर्दमा: विशेषण (Adjectival to रथभूमिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-प्रत्यय) + कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (negation)

• मर्दनीय-तरु-च्छेद्य-व्रतती-पङ्क-वर्जिता: free from mud and from rows of trees that must be crushed/cut
• मर्दनीय-तरु-च्छेद्य-व्रतती-पङ्क-वर्जिता: विशेषण (Adjectival to रथभूमिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मर्दनीय (कृदन्त; √मृद्/मर्द्) + तरु (प्रातिपदिक) + छेद्य (कृदन्त; √छिद्) + व्रतती (प्रातिपदिक) + पङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Agni

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Practical checklist for clearing and choosing a buildable plot: remove stumps/obstructions, avoid ridged agricultural land, ensure level compactable ground and absence of hazards like anthills and steep banks.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Doṣa-varjita vāstu-bhūmi (defect-free building site)","lookup_keywords":["stumps (nisthāṇu)","kedāra-ridges","ratha-bhūmi","akardama","vṛkṣa-cchedya"],"quick_summary":"A good site is obstruction-free, level and compactable, not muddy, not segmented by field ridges, and avoids features that force destructive clearing or create instability (anthills, steep banks, mire)."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Removing impediments and avoiding inherently unstable features is a form of dharmic foresight (anāgata-bhaya-pratīkāra).

Application: Use a negative checklist (what to avoid) before investing labor/wealth in construction or civic works.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Sacred Architecture & Site-Selection)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Workers and a vāstu expert inspect and clear a plot: removing stumps, noting field ridges, checking for mud, anthills, and steep banks; a chariot tests firmness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style; a vāstu-ācārya points to defects—stumps, anthill, muddy patch—while workers clear the land; a chariot wheel imprint shows firmness; warm earth tones, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold; central cleared plot framed by symbolic ‘doṣas’ being removed (stump, anthill, mire) and a small chariot indicating ratha-bhūmi; ornate auspicious border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like scene: labeled hazards (kedāra ridges, anthill, steep bank) and ideal features (level compacted ground); workers with tools; chariot test shown clearly.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed agrarian edge with ridges contrasted against a leveled construction plot; officials supervise stump removal; a chariot and horses demonstrate traversability; fine architectural planning feel."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: निस्थाणुवृक्षकेदारा = नि-स्थाणु-वृक्ष-केदारा; रथभूमिरकर्दमा = रथ-भूमिः अ-कर्दमा; मर्दनीयतरुच्छेद्यव्रततीपङ्कवर्जिता = मर्दनीय-तरु-च्छेद्य-व्रतती-पङ्क-वर्जिता.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu: bhūmi-śodhana (clearing/purification); Agni Purana: māna (measurement) and maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa (layout rules)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vastu-shastra
• Bhumi-pariksha

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches Vastu-bhūmi selection: the building site should be firm, level/compactable, and free from defects like stumps, excessive trees requiring felling, irrigation ridges, mud/mire, ant-hills, and steep banks.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond mythology, it preserves practical Vastu guidelines for civil/temple construction—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied sciences such as architecture, land testing, and settlement planning.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Choosing a defect-free, ritually clean site is presented as supporting auspiciousness and stability for dharmic construction (especially temples), reducing inauspicious influences associated with impure or obstructed ground.