Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6

Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations

Devanagari script

रामश्चापी शरी खड्गी शङ्खी वा द्विभुजः स्मृतः गदालाङ्गलधारी च रामो वाथ चतुर्भुजः

Transliteration

rāmaścāpī śarī khaḍgī śaṅkhī vā dvibhujaḥ smṛtaḥ gadālāṅgaladhārī ca rāmo vātha caturbhujaḥ

Translation

وُصِف راما (Rāma) أيضًا بأنه ذو ذراعين (dvibhuja)، يحمل القوس والسهام أو السيف أو الصدفة المقدسة (śaṅkha). وعلى وجهٍ آخر قد يُصوَّر راما ذا أربعة أذرع (caturbhuja)، حاملًا كذلك الهراوة (gadā) ونصل المحراث (lāṅgala).

Word by Word

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• चापी: bow-bearer
• चापी: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; चापधारी (bow-bearer)

• शरी: arrow-bearer
• शरी: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शरधारी (arrow-bearer)

• खड्गी: sword-bearer
• खड्गी: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; खड्गधारी

• शङ्खी: conch-bearer
• शङ्खी: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्खिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शङ्खधारी

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• द्विभुजः: two-armed
• द्विभुजः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि+भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—द्वौ भुजौ यस्य (two-armed)

• स्मृतः: is said/considered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is said/remembered’ (passive sense)

• गदालाङ्गलधारी: bearer of mace and plough
• गदालाङ्गलधारी: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा+लाङ्गल+धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—गदां लाङ्गलं च धारयति (bearing mace and plough)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक अव्यय (then)

• चतुर्भुजः: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्+भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (four-armed)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vīra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: रामश्चापी = रामः + चापी; रामो वाथ = रामः + वा + अथ; गदालाङ्गलधारी समासः (गदा+लाङ्गल+धारिन्)।

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bow
• Arrows
• Sword
• Conch (Shankha)
• Mace (Gada)
• Ploughshare (Langala)

FAQs

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

It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specifications) for depicting Rāma—permitted arm-number (two or four) and the correct attributes/weapons to be placed in his hands for worship and installation.

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

Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical temple-arts knowledge—standardized iconography used by sculptors and priests—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of ritual, visual culture, and applied religious technology.

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

Correctly forming and worshipping the deity-image according to lakṣaṇa is traditionally held to make the worship valid and efficacious, supporting purity of ritual intent and the devotee’s merit (puṇya).