Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 10
Chapter 153 — Brahmacarya-āśrama-dharma
The Dharma of the Student Stage
केशदेशललाटास्यतुल्याः प्रोक्ताः क्रमेण तु अवक्राः सत्वचः सर्वे नाविप्लुष्टास्तु दण्डकाः
keśadeśalalāṭāsyatulyāḥ proktāḥ krameṇa tu avakrāḥ satvacaḥ sarve nāvipluṣṭāstu daṇḍakāḥ
সেগুলি (দণ্ড) ক্রমানুসারে কেশদেশ, ললাট ও মুখের পরিমাপের সমান বলে বলা হয়েছে। সকল দণ্ড সোজা হবে, ত্বক সুদৃঢ় হবে; এবং দণ্ডক ফোস্কা-পড়া বা দগ্ধ হওয়া চলবে না।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Gives inspection/quality standards for ritual staffs/rods: correct proportional measures and material integrity (straight, unblemished, not burnt).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Daṇḍa-Parīkṣā: Māna (Keśa/Lalāṭa/Āsya) & Doṣa-Varjana","lookup_keywords":["daṇḍa","lakṣaṇa","māna","avakra","tvak"],"quick_summary":"A staff should match prescribed proportional measures and be straight with intact skin/bark; it must not be blistered or fire-scorched. This functions as a practical quality-check before ritual use."}
Concept: Lakṣaṇa (observable marks) guide correct selection of implements; outer integrity reflects fitness for sacred use.
Application: Measure and visually inspect ritual implements; standardize procurement by rejecting defective materials.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Anatomy & Physiognomy / Lakṣaṇa-śāstra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher measuring a staff against the student’s hairline, forehead, and face proportions; close inspection of bark/skin for blisters or burn marks; rejected warped rods set aside.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru holding staff beside student’s head and face to show proportional measures, stylized close-up of straight vs warped rods, earthy palette, didactic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on measuring cord and ritual staff, guru demonstrating straight unburnt daṇḍa, decorative border, clear focus on implement quality","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical instructional plate: three head regions (hairline, forehead, face) aligned with staff lengths, annotations implied, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, workshop-like scene with artisans and guru examining staffs, detailed textures of bark and burn blisters, naturalistic proportions, quiet scholarly mood"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: केशदेशललाटास्यतुल्याः = केश + देश + ललाट + आस्य + तुल्याः (समास); नाविप्लुष्टास्तु = न + अविप्लुष्टाः + तु
Related Themes: Agni Purana 153 (daṇḍa and vrata-ācāra sequence); Agni Purana lakṣaṇa/saṃsthāna discussions in allied sections
FAQs
It gives technical criteria—proportional measurements and quality checks (straightness, healthy surface, absence of scorching)—for items described as daṇḍakāḥ (rods), framed within a body/mark-measurement style of instruction.
Instead of narrative theology alone, it preserves applied, checklist-like specifications—measurement, material condition, and defects—showing how the Agni Purana compiles practical sciences (here, anatomy/physiognomy-style proportional rules and technical inspection).
By emphasizing correctness of proportion and freedom from defects, it reflects the broader dharmic principle that precision and purity in prescribed standards support auspicious outcomes and reduce ritual/technical fault (doṣa).