Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 34

Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ

Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms

Devanagari script

ततो मेढ्रान्तरं कार्यं तालमात्रं प्रमाणतः नाभिमध्ये प्रीणाहो द्विचत्वारिंशदङ्गुलैः

Transliteration

tato meḍhrāntaraṃ kāryaṃ tālamātraṃ pramāṇataḥ nābhimadhye prīṇāho dvicatvāriṃśadaṅgulaiḥ

Translation

Ensuite, l’écartement dans la région génitale doit être établi selon la mesure, d’une étendue d’un tāla ; et au milieu du nombril, la circonférence (prīṇāha) doit être fixée à quarante-deux aṅgulas.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (देश-काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय) (तद् + तस्)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• मेढ्र-अन्तरम्: the genital interval/space
• मेढ्र-अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म) (thing to be made/defined)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेढ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.); तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'distance/space of the penis')

• कार्यम्: to be made
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म) (predicative adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + य (प्रत्यय) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तव्यता; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (gerundive: 'to be made', neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• ताल-मात्रम्: a tāla measure (only)
• ताल-मात्रम्: Parimana (परिमाण-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.); तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'only a tāla-measure')

• प्रमाणतः: according to measure
• प्रमाणतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (adverbial standard)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित) → प्रमाणतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (adverb: 'according to measure')

• नाभि-मध्ये: in the middle of the navel
• नाभि-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (neuter, locative singular); तत्पुरुष (locative sense: 'in the middle of the navel')

• प्रीणाहः: circumference/girth (technical measure)
• प्रीणाहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीणाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nominative singular)

• द्वि-चत्वारिंशत्-अङ्गुलैः: by forty-two finger-breadths
• द्वि-चत्वारिंशत्-अङ्गुलैः: Karana (करण) / Parimana (परिमाण-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + चत्वारिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (instrumental plural: 'by/with 42 finger-breadths'); द्विगु (numerical compound)

Speaker

Lord Agni (teaching iconographic proportion to Sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Fixing sensitive lower-torso proportions (genital spacing, navel-region girth) in iconometry to maintain canonical aesthetics and symbolism.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Meḍhra-antara Tāla & Nābhi-madhya Parināha","lookup_keywords":["meḍhra-antara","tāla-mātra","nābhi-madhya","parināha","dvicatvāriṃśad-aṅgula"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes genital-region spacing as one tāla and sets the navel-mid girth/circumference at forty-two aṅgulas, guiding sculptural proportioning."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa as disciplined embodiment of sacred form, even in anatomically delicate regions.

Application: Apply fixed units (tāla/aṅgula) to maintain decorum and consistency across icons.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Iconometry and Temple/Idol Proportions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A proportional diagram of a standing icon highlights the one-tāla spacing in the pelvic region and a measured circumference line at the navel level marked ‘42 aṅgulas’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dignified standing deity with faint measurement bands, navel-level circumference line, artisan holding measuring cord, restrained depiction.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, richly ornamented standing figure, gold work, discreet measurement marks at navel and pelvis, sacred geometry feel.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical plate: tāla scale on the side, pelvic spacing indicated, navel girth annotated ‘42 aṅgula’, clean lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, workshop with measuring cord wrapped around a clay model at navel height, master notes ‘42’ on a folio, fine detailing."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मेढ्रान्तरं = मेढ्र-अन्तरम्; नाभिमध्ये = नाभि-मध्ये; द्विचत्वारिंशदङ्गुलैः = द्वि-चत्वारिंशत्-अङ्गुलैः.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 44 (tāla-based body measures; continuation from nābhi rules)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vāstu-śāstra
• Pratimā-lakṣaṇa
• Tāla
• Aṅgula

FAQs

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

It gives śilpa/vāstu technical canon: proportional measurements for an image—specifying the genital-region spacing (meḍhrāntara) and the navel-region girth (prīṇāha) in standard units like tāla and aṅgula.

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

Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied design science (vāstu-śāstra and iconometry), recording precise sculptural/architectural standards used in temple arts and image-making.

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

Correct proportion in sacred images is traditionally held to support proper worship (arcana) by ensuring the deity-form is made according to śāstra, which is believed to enhance ritual efficacy and merit.