Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 18
Determination of Boundary Disputes and Related Matters (सीमाविवादादिनिर्णयः)
धनुःशतं परीणाहो ग्रामक्षेत्रान्तरं भवेत् द्वे शते खर्वटस्य स्यान्नगरस्य चतुःशतम्
dhanuḥśataṃ parīṇāho grāmakṣetrāntaraṃ bhavet dve śate kharvaṭasya syānnagarasya catuḥśatam
The intervening boundary between a village and its agricultural lands should have a circumference of one hundred dhanus. For a kharvaṭa (market-hamlet) it should be two hundred, and for a city it should be four hundred (dhanus).
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s common narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Provides administrative planning metrics for settlement boundaries: specifies standard circumferences (in dhanus) for village-field interval, market-hamlet, and city—useful for surveying, zoning, and jurisdiction demarcation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Settlement Boundary Measures (Grāma–Kharvaṭa–Nagara)","lookup_keywords":["dhanus measure","parīṇāha circumference","grāma boundary","kharvaṭa","nagara planning"],"quick_summary":"Defines standard circumferential measures for the intervening boundary/limit: 100 dhanus for village-field interval, 200 for kharvaṭa, 400 for city. It supports consistent surveying and civic administration."}
Concept: Right measure (māna) and clear boundaries sustain social harmony and governance.
Application: Apply in cadastral surveys and municipal planning: classify settlement type, set boundary circumference, and reduce disputes over jurisdiction and land use.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Nagaravyavastha (Measures of settlements and administrative geography)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Surveyors measure a circular/encircling boundary with a dhanus (measuring rod/bow-length), marking rings for village, market-hamlet, and city with increasing circumferences.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; stylized surveyors with measuring rods; three concentric boundary rings labeled grāma, kharvaṭa, nagara; earthy palette, clear geometric layout.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting; gold-highlighted concentric city plan; royal officer overseeing surveyors; decorative borders; emphasis on sacred geometry and civic order.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; technical diagram-like scene with surveyors, measuring rope/rod, boundary posts; neat annotations of 100/200/400 dhanus; calm didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed landscape with survey team, measuring chain, boundary stones; a small town, market-hamlet, and city vignette panels showing scale differences."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धनुःशतं = धनुः-शतम्; ग्रामक्षेत्रान्तरं = ग्राम-क्षेत्र-अन्तरम्; स्यान्नगरस्य = स्यात् + नगरस्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana 256 (nagaravyavastha: settlement measures and administration)
FAQs
It gives technical standards of measurement (using the dhanu as a unit) for prescribing the perimeter/extent of boundary separation for villages, market-hamlets (kharvaṭa), and cities—practical administrative geography.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied knowledge of governance—settlement classification, land-measurement, and planning norms—showing the Purana’s coverage of civil administration alongside ritual and myth.
By promoting orderly boundaries and well-regulated settlements, it supports dharma in social life—reducing disputes over land and enabling stable, righteous livelihood, which is traditionally viewed as conducive to merit (puṇya).