Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 27
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
त्रिकलौ विस्तृतौ बाहू प्रबाहू चापि तत्समौ बाहुदण्डोर्ध्वतो ज्ञेयः परिणाहः कला नव
trikalau vistṛtau bāhū prabāhū cāpi tatsamau bāhudaṇḍordhvato jñeyaḥ pariṇāhaḥ kalā nava
Les bras (bāhu), lorsqu’ils sont pleinement étendus, mesurent trois kalās, et les avant-bras (prabāhu) sont de même mesure. Au-dessus du « bâton du bras » (bāhu-daṇḍa), la circonférence (pariṇāha) doit être comprise comme étant de neuf kalās.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Applied to archery training and equipment fitting: determining arm/forearm extension measures and upper-arm girth for selecting bow draw length, arm-guard sizing, and standardized training benchmarks.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dhanurveda: Bāhu–prabāhu vistāra and bāhu-daṇḍa pariṇāha","lookup_keywords":["dhanurveda bāhu","prabāhu vistāra","pariṇāha","kalā māna","archery measurement"],"quick_summary":"Defines standardized outstretched arm and forearm measures (in kalā) and specifies the upper-arm circumference. Useful for calibrating bodily standards in martial training and weapon ergonomics."}
Weapon Type: Bow (implied by archery context)
Concept: Śarīra-pramāṇa as a basis for skill (kauśala) and efficacy in martial practice.
Application: Use objective measures to set training goals and match equipment to the body, reducing error and improving performance.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Archery and measurements of weapons/body-parts used for martial training)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A martial instructor measures a trainee’s fully outstretched arms with a cord marked in kalās; nearby are bows of different draw lengths and an arm-guard; a note-board shows ‘pariṇāha: 9 kalā’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, archery training courtyard, guru measuring student’s arms with rajju, bows hung on wall, kalā markings stylized, warm earthy palette, rhythmic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, archer in poised stance with bow, gold-highlighted measurement cord and inscriptions ‘3 kalā’ and ‘9 kalā’, ornate frame, devotional-martial fusion aesthetic","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional scene: teacher with measuring cord, student with extended arms, labeled kalā units, soft shading and precise outlines, minimal background clutter","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed training ground with attendants, measuring cord and writing tablet, bows and quivers rendered finely, annotated margins indicating kalā measures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hindol","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāpi → ca + api; tatsamau → tat-samau; bāhudaṇḍordhvato → bāhu-daṇḍa-ūrdhvataḥ (orthography varies: ūrdhvataḥ/ūrdhvato); kalā nava → kalāḥ nava
Related Themes: Agni Purana 44 (measurement canons used across vidyās); Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections (weapon handling, bow standards, if in adjacent chapters)
FAQs
It teaches Dhanurveda-style proportional measurement (māna) of the arms/forearms and the required upper-arm girth in kalās—used to standardize training, grip, draw, and equipment fit.
By preserving precise, quasi-anatomical measurement rules within a Purāṇa, it shows the text’s coverage beyond theology—into applied martial science, technical standards, and practical instruction.
In the Purāṇic frame, correct technique and measured discipline in sanctioned martial knowledge support dharma (right conduct) and responsible use of force, aligning skill with ethical restraint.