Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 1
Adhyaya 120 — भुवनकोषः
Bhuvanakośa: Cosmic Geography and Cosmological Measures
झ च स्वादूदका द्वित्रिगुणेति ख , छ च स्वादूदका तु द्विगुणेति घ , ज च स्वादूदका तु द्विगुणेति ग , ङ च पञ्चाशत्कोटिविस्तृतेति छ अथ विंशत्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः भुवनकोषः अग्निर् उवाच विस्तारस्तु स्मृतो भूमेः सहस्राणि च सप्ततिः उच्छ्रायो दशसाहस्रं पातालञ्चैकमेककं
jha ca svādūdakā dvitriguṇeti kha , cha ca svādūdakā tu dviguṇeti gha , ja ca svādūdakā tu dviguṇeti ga , ṅa ca pañcāśatkoṭivistṛteti cha atha viṃśatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ bhuvanakoṣaḥ agnir uvāca vistārastu smṛto bhūmeḥ sahasrāṇi ca saptatiḥ ucchrāyo daśasāhasraṃ pātālañcaikamekakaṃ
« (Selon le schéma métrique/mnémotechnique :) jha—“les eaux douces sont doubles et triples (en étendue)” ; kha— ; cha—“les eaux douces sont bien doubles” ; gha— ; ja—“les eaux douces sont bien doubles” ; ga— ; ṅa—“(cela) s’étend jusqu’à cinquante koṭis” ; cha—. » Commence maintenant le cent vingtième chapitre, « Bhuvanakośa (Géographie cosmique) ». Agni dit : On se souvient que la largeur de la Terre est de soixante-dix mille yojanas ; sa hauteur est de dix mille ; et chacun des Pātālas (mondes inférieurs) mesure mille yojanas.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Mnemonic/recensional markers plus core measurements (breadth, height, pātāla depth) used for memorization, teaching, and constructing Purāṇic cosmographic charts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Earth’s measurements and Pātāla dimensions (Bhuvanakośa opening)","lookup_keywords":["bhuvanakośa","70,000 yojanas","10,000 height","pātāla 1,000","mnemonic akṣaras"],"quick_summary":"Introduces Bhuvanakośa with remembered measures: Earth’s breadth 70,000 yojanas, height 10,000, and each nether region (pātāla) 1,000 yojanas; includes mnemonic syllable cues from the transmission tradition."}
Concept: Knowledge as structured enumeration (saṅkhyā/pariṇāma) enabling retention and transmission of cosmology.
Application: Use in recitation schools and commentarial traditions to keep consistent cosmographic numbers; supports diagramming and oral pedagogy.
Khanda Section: Cosmology (Bhuvana-kośa / Puranic Geography and Measurements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Cosmic region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-like Agni introducing the Bhuvanakośa with a schematic of Earth’s breadth and height and stacked netherworld layers, with mnemonic syllables as marginal notes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni as a radiant sage-deity seated with palm-leaf manuscript, behind him a stylized cosmographic diagram: horizontal band for 70,000 yojanas, vertical axis for 10,000, layered underworld strata, decorative script-like mnemonic akṣaras in borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Agni with halo and gold ornamentation, holding manuscript; embossed gold lines forming a cosmological chart with labeled measures, rich reds and greens, temple-arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional tableau: Agni pointing to a measured cosmogram, neat labels for 70,000/10,000/1,000 yojanas, mnemonic syllables in side panels, fine linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly scene in a courtly atelier: a sage reciting while assistants draw a cosmographic map with numeric annotations, delicate calligraphy, measured vertical cross-section showing pātālas."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tamo 'dhyāyaḥ = tamaḥ + adhyāyaḥ; agnir uvāca = agniḥ + uvāca; vistāras-tu = vistāraḥ + tu; pātālañ-ca = pātālam + ca; caikam = ca + ekam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 119.28 (pañcāśat-koṭi extent); Agni Purana 120.2 (names of pātālas)
FAQs
It imparts cosmographical measurement-knowledge (bhuvana-pramāṇa): the traditional breadth and height of the Earth and the standardized extent of each Pātāla, expressed in canonical units (commonly understood as yojanas).
By shifting into Bhuvanakośa, it catalogs quantitative geography of the cosmos—one of the Purana’s ‘reference-manual’ domains alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts—showing the text’s role as a compendium of traditional sciences and classifications.
Knowing the ordered structure and measures of the worlds supports dharmic worldview and sacred orientation (tīrtha, loka, and cosmic order), reinforcing faith in ṛta/dharma and the Purāṇic vision of a structured universe governed by divine law.