Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 33

नगरादिवास्तुकथनं

Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements

Devanagari script

तस्माच्च नवमे भागे शुभकृन्निलयो मतः तन्मधे मण्डपः शस्तः समो वा द्विगुणायतः

Transliteration

tasmācca navame bhāge śubhakṛnnilayo mataḥ tanmadhe maṇḍapaḥ śastaḥ samo vā dviguṇāyataḥ

Translation

Ainsi, dans la neuvième division est prescrite la demeure (ou le siège) de Śubhakṛt. En son milieu, on recommande un maṇḍapa (pavillon), soit de plan carré, soit rectangulaire, deux fois plus long.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that / therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• नवमे: in the ninth
• नवमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण

• भागे: in the portion/part
• भागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• शुभ-कृत्-निलयः: auspicious dwelling / abode that brings good
• शुभ-कृत्-निलयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त, √कृ) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'शुभं करोति' (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) + निलयः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष समासार्थ: 'शुभकृद् निलयः')

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'considered/held to be'

• तत्-मध्ये: in its middle
• तत्-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; 'तस्य मध्ये' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• मण्डपः: pavilion / hall
• मण्डपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• शस्तः: is recommended
• शस्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शंस् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'praised/recommended'

• समः: equal (in dimensions)
• समः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (particle of option)

• द्वि-गुण-आयतः: twice as long / double-extended
• द्वि-गुण-आयतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण; 'द्विगुणम् आयतः' (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in instruction to the sages, traditionally Vasiṣṭha as listener)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्माच्च = तस्मात् + च; शुभकृन्निलयो = शुभकृत् + निलयः; तन्मधे = तत् + मध्ये; द्विगुणायतः = द्वि + गुण + आयतः

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Vastu-shastra
• Mandapa
• Śubhakṛt

FAQs

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

It gives a Vastu-shastra rule for placing an auspicious zone (Śubhakṛt-nilaya) in the ninth division and specifies the recommended maṇḍapa plan: either square or a 1:2 rectangular hall.

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

Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical knowledge—here, architectural planning and proportional design rules for ritual/assembly structures (maṇḍapas), showing its coverage of practical sciences like Vastu.

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

Correct placement and proportion of the maṇḍapa are treated as auspicious, aligning built space with benefic Vastu principles to support purity, successful rites, and favorable outcomes for the patron.