Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 20

Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्

Dhyāna / Meditation

Devanagari script

द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तीर्णं शुद्धं विकशितं सितं नालमष्टाङ्णूलं तस्य नाभिकन्दसमुद्भवं

Transliteration

dvādaśāṅgulavistīrṇaṃ śuddhaṃ vikaśitaṃ sitaṃ nālamaṣṭāṅṇūlaṃ tasya nābhikandasamudbhavaṃ

Translation

Er soll zwölf Fingerbreiten weit sein — rein, voll erblüht und weiß. Sein Stängel soll acht Fingerbreiten messen und aus der Knolle (kanda) im Nabelzentrum hervorgehen.

Word by Word

• द्वादश-अङ्गुल-विस्तीर्णम्: spread to twelve finger-breadths
• द्वादश-अङ्गुल-विस्तीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त; वि+स्तॄ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (मात्रा-निर्देशः: द्वादश-अङ्गुलैः विस्तीर्णम्)

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विकशितम्: fully blossomed
• विकशितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + कश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सितम्: white
• सितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नालम्: stalk
• नालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अष्ट-अङ्गुल-मूलम्: having a root of eight finger-breadths
• अष्ट-अङ्गुल-मूलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (मात्रा-निर्देशः: अष्ट-अङ्गुलं मूलं यस्य)

• तस्य: of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• नाभि-कन्द-समुद्भवम्: arising from the navel-bulb
• नाभि-कन्द-समुद्भवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भव (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; सम्+उद्+भू धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (नाभिकन्दात् समुद्भवम्)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Provides measurable specifications (aṅgula-pramāṇa) for visualizing or ritually constructing the lotus-seat: width, color, bloom-state, stalk length, and origin from the navel-bulb.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Padma-āsana pramāṇa (12-aṅgula lotus, 8-aṅgula stalk)","lookup_keywords":["padma-pramāṇa","dvādaśāṅgula","nāla-aṣṭāṅgula","śveta-vikāsita","nābhi-kanda"],"quick_summary":"The lotus-seat is defined by precise measures and features—twelve aṅgulas wide, white and fully blossomed, with an eight-aṅgula stalk arising from the navel-bulb—supporting accurate ritual visualization or iconographic planning."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa as a means to stabilize visualization: measured form supports steady dhyāna and correct ritual imagination.

Application: Use fixed measurements and clear attributes (color, bloom, origin) to prevent mental drift during manasa-puja and to standardize iconographic seats.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Padma/Lotus and Deity-seat specifications in ritual iconography)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A clean, diagram-like lotus-seat: white fully open lotus of specified width, with a measured stalk rising from a navel-centered bulb; emphasis on proportions and purity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized white lotus with clear petal geometry, annotated feel but traditional, stalk emerging from a central navel-bulb motif, soft gold outlines, calm background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, large white lotus with thick gold embossing on petal edges, central bulb at navel motif, stalk rendered as a gold-green column, jewel accents to indicate divinity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional plate: lotus drawn with precise symmetry, subtle shading, measurement cues (12 aṅgula width, 8 aṅgula stalk) suggested via spacing, elegant borders.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, botanical precision: white lotus fully bloomed, slender stalk, central bulb motif, fine linework and muted wash, minimal background."}

Audio Atmosphere

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्वादश-अङ्गुल-विस्तीर्णम् इति समास; अष्ट-अङ्गुल-मूलम् (IAST ‘aṣṭāṅṇūlaṃ’ = aṣṭāṅgula-mūlam); नाभि-कन्द-समुद्भवम् इति समास

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.19 (śuddha-dhyeya selection); Agni Purana 373.21-23 (symbolic mapping of lotus parts; central flame visualization)

Characters & Entities

• Padma (lotus)
• Aṅgula (ritual measure)
• Nāla (lotus stalk)
• Nābhi-kanda (central bulb/tuber)

FAQs

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

It teaches precise aṅgula-based measurements and iconographic qualities (white, pure, fully opened) for constructing/visualizing a ritual lotus-seat (padma) including its stalk and central bulb-origin.

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

By preserving standardized ritual design data—exact dimensions and morphological details—the text functions like a manual for worship-implements and sacred layouts, alongside its many other disciplines.

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

Following prescribed purity, form, and measure is treated as ensuring ritual correctness (śuddhi) and efficacy—supporting merit (puṇya) by aligning worship with scriptural standards.