Adhyaya 65

Verse 1

इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये कूपवापीतडागादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं नाम चतुःषष्टितमो ऽध्यायः अथ पञ्चषष्टितमो ऽध्यायः सभास्थापनकथनं भगवानुवाच सभादिस्थानं वक्ष्ये तथैव तेषां प्रवर्तनं भूमौ परीक्षितायाञ्च वास्तुयागं समाचरेत्

Thus, in the Agni Purāṇa—within the Primordial Great Purāṇa—ends the sixty-fourth chapter entitled “The Account of the Consecration of Wells, Stepwells, Tanks, and the like.” Now begins the sixty-fifth chapter: “The Account of Establishing an Assembly-hall.” The Blessed Lord said: “I shall describe the proper site for an assembly-hall and related structures, and also the manner in which they are to be set in operation. And when the ground has been examined, one should duly perform the Vāstu-sacrifice (Vāstu-yajña).”

Verse 2

स्वेच्छया तु सभां कृत्वा स्वेच्छया स्थापयेत् सुरान् तोयं समुत्सृजेदेवमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गोकुलं पाययेद् द्विजानिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः चतुष्पथे ग्रामादौ च न शून्ये कारयेत् सभां

Having built an assembly-hall according to one’s means, one should, according to one’s means, install the deities. One should then perform the water-offering/aspersive discharge (a consecratory rite). (Variant reading: “one should give water to the cow-herd (gokula) and to the twice-born.”) One should have the assembly-hall constructed at a four-road junction or at the beginning/edge of a village, and not in a desolate, uninhabited place.

Verse 3

निर्मलः कुलमुद्धृत्य कर्ता स्वर्गे विमोदते अनेन विधिना कुर्यात् सप्तभौमं हरेर्गृहं

Becoming purified, and having uplifted (redeemed) his lineage, the patron who undertakes this work rejoices in heaven. By this very procedure, one should build a seven-storeyed house or temple of Hari (Viṣṇu).

Verse 4

यथा राज्ञां तथान्येषां पूर्वाद्याश् च ध्वजादयः कोणभुजान् वर्जयित्वा चतुःशालं तु वर्तयेत्

As in the case of kings, so too for others, the eastern and other directional standards—such as flags and the like—should be arranged; but the corner-projections should be avoided, and a four-hall, quadrangular plan should be executed.

Verse 5

त्रिशालं वा द्विशालं वा एकशालमथापि वा व्ययाधिकं न कुर्वीत व्ययदोषकरं हि तत्

Whether one builds a three-hall plan, a two-hall plan, or even a single-hall plan, one should not undertake it with expenditure exceeding one’s means; for that indeed is a fault that brings ruinous expense.

Verse 6

आयाधिके भवेत् पीडा तस्मात् कुर्यात् समं द्वयं करराशिं समस्तन्तु कुर्याद्वसुगुणं गुरुः

If income or exaction becomes excessive, distress arises; therefore one should make the two sides equal. The total “kararāśi” (the computed sum in hand) should be made eightfold, says the teacher.

Verse 7

सप्तार्चिषा हृते भागे गर्गविद्याविचक्षणः अष्टधा भाजिते तस्मिन् यच्छेषं स व्ययो गतः

When the portion has been taken away by the “Seven-rayed” (Saptārciṣ—i.e., the Kṛttikās/Pleiades), the expert in Garga’s science states: if that remainder is then divided into eight parts, whatever residue remains is called “vyaya” (loss/deficit).

Verse 8

अथवा करराशिं तु हन्यात् सप्तार्चिषा बुधः वसुभिः संहृते भागे पृथ्व्यादि परिकल्पयेत्

Alternatively, the learned practitioner should strike or mark the “kararāśi” (the computed heap/sum in hand). When the portion has been gathered by the Vasus, he should then arrange the elements beginning with pṛthvī (Earth) and so forth.

Verse 9

ध्वजो धूम्रस् तथा सिंहः श्वा वृषस्तु खरो गजः तथा ध्वाङ्क्षस्तु पूर्वादावुद्भवन्ति विकल्पयेत्

A banner, smoke, a lion, a dog, a bull, a donkey, an elephant, and likewise a crow—when these appear beginning from the east and so on, one should interpret them according to the directional alternatives.

Verse 10

त्रिशालकत्रयं शस्तं उदक्पूर्वविवर्जितं याम्यां परगृहोपेतं द्विशालं लभ्यते सदा

Three arrangements of the triśālā (three-winged) house are commended, excluding those oriented to the north and the east. But when a house on the southern side is joined to a neighbor’s house, it is invariably classed as a dviśālā (two-winged house).

Verse 11

याम्ये शालैकशालं तु प्रत्यक्शालमथापि वा एकशालद्वयं शस्तं शेषास्त्वन्ये भयावहाः

On the southern side, a single-hall house (ekaśālā) or even a west-facing hall (pratyakśālā) is recommended. A pair of single-hall units (ekaśālā-dvaya) is also approved; other arrangements, however, are said to be perilous.

Verse 12

चतुःशालं सदा शस्तं सर्वदोषविवर्जितं एकभौमादि कुर्वीत भवनं सप्तभौमकं

A catuḥśāla (four-courted, four-winged) house is always recommended, being free from all defects. One should build a residence beginning with a single storey and extending up to seven storeys.

Verse 13

द्वारवेद्यादिरहितं पूरणेन विवर्जितं देवगृहं देवतायाः प्रतिष्ठाविधिना सदा

A deity’s temple that lacks the doorway, the vedī (altar) and other essential components, and that is not properly completed (left unfinished or unfilled), should always be rejected according to the prescribed rite of consecration (pratiṣṭhā-vidhi).

Verse 14

पूश् चतुष्पथग्रामादाविति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः ध्वजादि इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः संस्थाप्य मनुजानाञ्च समुदायोक्तकर्मणा प्रातः सर्वौषधीस्नानं कृत्वा शुचिरतन्द्रितः

Having installed Pūṣan (or, according to a marked manuscript reading, having installed [the deity] at the village’s four-road crossroads; and, according to another marked reading, having installed the banner and the rest), and having granted permission to the assembled people in accordance with the procedure prescribed for a collective rite, one should at dawn perform a bath with all medicinal herbs, remaining pure and free from lethargy.

Verse 15

मधुरैस्तु द्विजान् भोज्य पूर्णकुम्भादिशोभितं सतोरणं स्वस्ति वाच्य द्विजान् गोष्ठहस्तकः

One should feed the twice-born (dvija) with sweet foods; the place should be adorned with a full water-pot (pūrṇa-kumbha) and other auspicious items, furnished with a toraṇa-festooned gateway, and the Brahmanas should be addressed with blessings of well-being. The host, with hands joined in reverence, should respectfully attend upon the Brahmanas.

Verse 16

गृही गृहं प्रविशेच्च दैवज्ञान् प्रार्च्य संविशेत् गृहे पुष्टिकरं मन्त्रं पठेच्चेमं समाहितः

The householder should enter the home; having first worshipped the knowers of divine rites (learned officiants/astrologer-priests), he should then take up residence. In the house, with a focused mind, he should recite this prosperity-bestowing mantra.

Verse 17

ॐ नन्दे नन्दय वाशिष्ठे वसुभिः प्रजया सह जये भार्गवदायदे प्रजानां विजयावहे

Om. O Nandā—gladden us. O Vāśiṣṭhī—together with the Vasus and with progeny. O Jayā—giver of Bhārgava’s legacy; bring victory to the people.

Verse 18

पूर्णे ऽङ्गिरसदायादे पूर्णकामं कुरुध्व मां भद्रे काश्यपदायादे कुरु भद्रां मतिं मम

O Pūrṇā, descendant of Aṅgiras—make me one whose desires are fulfilled. O Bhadrā, descendant of Kaśyapa—make my understanding auspicious.

Verse 19

सर्ववीजौषधीयुक्ते सर्वरत्नौषधीवृते रुचिरे नन्दने नन्दे वासिष्ठे रम्यतामिह

In this splendid Nandana grove—endowed with every kind of seed and medicinal herb, and covered with all manner of jewel-like and healing plants—may it be delightful here, O Vāsiṣṭha.

Verse 20

प्रजापतिसुते देवि चतुरस्रे महीयसि सुभगे सुव्रते देवि गृहे काश्यपि रम्यतां

O Goddess, daughter of Prajāpati; O Kāśyapī; you who are exalted in the four-cornered (square) ground-plan—O auspicious one of good vows—may you delight and abide pleasantly in this house.

Verse 21

पूजिते परमाचार्यैर् गन्धमाल्यैर् अलङ्कृते भवभूतिकरे देवि गृहे भार्गवि रम्यतां

When you have been worshipped by the foremost preceptors and adorned with perfumes and garlands, O Goddess—bestower of prosperity—O Bhārgavī, be gracious to delightfully abide in this house.

Verse 22

अव्यक्ते व्याकृते पूर्णे मुनेरङ्गिरसः सुते इष्टके त्वं प्रयच्छेष्टं प्रतिष्ठां कारयाम्यहं

O Iṣṭakā (sacred brick), you who are complete as the Unmanifest and as the Manifest—O daughter of the sage Aṅgiras—grant the desired boon; I shall perform your consecration (pratiṣṭhā).

Verse 23

देशस्वामिपुरस्वामिगृहस्वामिपरिग्रहे मनुष्यधनहस्त्यश्वपशुवृद्धिकरी भव

In the acquisition or securing of a lordship over a territory, a city, or a household, may you become the cause of increase in people, wealth, elephants, horses, and livestock.