Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 35

Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ

Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms

Devanagari script

अन्तरं स्तनयोः कार्यं तालमात्रं प्रमाणतः चिवुकौ यवमानौ तु मण्डलं द्विपदं भवेत्

Transliteration

antaraṃ stanayoḥ kāryaṃ tālamātraṃ pramāṇataḥ civukau yavamānau tu maṇḍalaṃ dvipadaṃ bhavet

Translation

L’espace entre les deux seins doit être établi selon la juste proportion, d’un tāla. Les deux saillies (civuka) doivent être de la mesure d’un yava ; et le disque circulaire (maṇḍala) doit avoir la taille de deux padas.

Word by Word

• अन्तरम्: interval/distance
• अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म) (thing to be made/defined)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.)

• स्तनयोः: of the two breasts
• स्तनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन (masc. genitive dual: 'of the two breasts')

• 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
• 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')

• चिवुकौ: the two chins/jaw-points (civuka)
• चिवुकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिवुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (masc. nominative dual)

• यव-मानौ: measured by barley-grains
• यव-मानौ: Karta (कर्ता) (agreement adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (masc. nom. dual); तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'measured in barley-grains')

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• मण्डलम्: circle/disk
• मण्डलम्: Karta (कर्ता) (of bhavet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.)

• द्वि-पदम्: two-footed / of two measures
• द्वि-पदम्: Karta (कर्ता) (agreement adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.); द्विगु (numerical compound: 'two-footed/two-step')

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्ग, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative, 3rd sg: 'should be')

Speaker

Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Specifying chest-region spacing and small-unit measures (yava, pada) for accurate sculptural detailing and ornament placement.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Stana-antara Tāla, Civuka-yava, Maṇḍala-dvipada","lookup_keywords":["stana-antara","tāla-mātra","civuka","yava-māna","maṇḍala-dvipada"],"quick_summary":"Sets the inter-breast distance to one tāla, assigns civuka protrusions to yava-measure, and fixes a circular maṇḍala at two padas—useful for chest detailing and emblem/disc sizing."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: From macro (tāla) to micro (yava) units, sacred form is built by graded precision.

Application: Use larger units for spacing and smaller units for subtle anatomical/ornamental features to keep the icon visually coherent.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Shilpa-shastra (Iconometry / Pratima-lakshana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sculptor measures the chest of an icon: marks one-tāla gap between breasts, adds tiny yava-sized civuka details, and draws a two-pada circular maṇḍala emblem.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up chest region with subtle measurement marks, artisan applying fine details with stylus, earthy tones and temple ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold embellishment on a circular maṇḍala emblem, clear one-tāla spacing, rich jewelry and textile patterns.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional panel showing unit conversions and placement: tāla for spacing, yava for small protrusions, two-pada circle template.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with compass drawing a circular maṇḍala on the chest ornament, assistant holding a tāla scale, intricate detailing."}

Audio Atmosphere

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्तनयोः (dual gen.); यवमानौ = यव-मानौ.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 44 (unit system: aṅgula, yava, pada, tāla; chest/torso lakṣaṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Shilpa-shastra
• Pratima-lakshana
• Tāla
• Yava
• Maṇḍala
• Pada

FAQs

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

It gives precise iconometric rules for sculpting/depicting a deity-image: the inter-breast spacing (one tāla), small raised features (one yava), and the size of a circular disk/roundel (two padas).

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

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical Shilpa-shastra—standardized measurement systems (tāla, yava, pada) used by temple architects and sculptors—showing its coverage of applied arts and technical sciences.

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

Correct proportion (pramāṇa) in sacred images is traditionally held to support ritual efficacy and auspiciousness; faithful measurements help ensure the icon is fit for consecration (pratiṣṭhā) and worship.