Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 44

The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)

Devanagari script

कोष्ठकानां भद्रकञ्च मध्ये षोडशकोष्ठकैः पार्श्वे वीथीं ततश्चाष्टभद्राण्यथ च वीथिका

Transliteration

koṣṭhakānāṃ bhadrakañca madhye ṣoḍaśakoṣṭhakaiḥ pārśve vīthīṃ tataścāṣṭabhadrāṇyatha ca vīthikā

Translation

Entre los compartimentos (koṣṭhakas), colóquese en el centro un bhadraka auspicioso; a los lados dispónganse dieciséis compartimentos; luego establézcase una vīthī (pasaje/avenida) y, después, ocho bhadrakas, así como una vīthikā (pasaje menor).

Word by Word

• कोष्ठकानाम्: of the cells/compartments
• कोष्ठकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोष्ठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• भद्रकम्: a bhadraka (auspicious square/section)
• भद्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः ‘in the middle’

• षोडश-कोष्ठकैः: with sixteen compartments
• षोडश-कोष्ठकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश (संख्या) + कोष्ठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन

• पार्श्वे: at the side
• पार्श्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वीथीम्: a row/avenue (vīthī)
• वीथीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीथी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘thereafter/from that’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अष्ट-भद्राणि: eight bhadras
• अष्ट-भद्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या) + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ (then/next)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• वीथिका: a small vīthī/secondary row
• वीथिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीथिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विधेय), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s technical instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: भद्रकञ्च = भद्रकम् + च. ततश्चाष्टभद्राणि = ततः + च + अष्टभद्राणि.

Characters & Entities

• Vastu-shastra
• Koṣṭhaka
• Bhadraka
• Vīthī
• Vīthikā

FAQs

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

It teaches a Vastu-shastra layout rule: how to arrange compartments (koṣṭhakas) with a central bhadraka, side units counted as sixteen, and the placement of passages (vīthī/vīthikā) plus eight additional bhadrakas—i.e., a counted, modular plan for a structure or mandala.

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

Beyond myth and devotion, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical sciences; here it encodes architectural planning terminology (koṣṭhaka, bhadraka, vīthī) and numerical design constraints typical of classical Indian Vastu treatises.

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

In Vastu thought, correct proportioning and auspicious placement (bhadraka, ordered passages) harmonize the built space with dharma and cosmic order, supporting purity, stability, and beneficial results for the occupants and ritual activity performed there.