Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11

Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं

Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland

Devanagari script

कस्तूरीरोचनाचन्द्रैर् हरिद्रागैर् इकादिभिः ग्रन्थयो दश कर्तव्या अथवा तन्तुसङ्ख्यया

Transliteration

kastūrīrocanācandrair haridrāgair ikādibhiḥ granthayo daśa kartavyā athavā tantusaṅkhyayā

Translation

En employant le musc (kastūrī), la gorocanā, le camphre, le curcuma et des ingrédients similaires, on doit préparer dix nœuds (ou boulettes/unités) ; ou bien, à défaut, en une quantité mesurée selon le nombre de fils (compte normalisé).

Word by Word

• कस्तूरी-रोचना-चन्द्रैः: with musk, gorocanā, and moon-(like substance)
• कस्तूरी-रोचना-चन्द्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कस्तूरी (प्रातिपदिक) + रोचना (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective copulative)

• हरिद्रा-आगैः: with turmeric and āga (a fragrant substance)
• हरिद्रा-आगैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + आग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः

• इक-आदिभिः: with (letters) beginning with ‘ik’ etc.
• इक-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ik-ādi = beginning with ik)

• ग्रन्थयः: knots
• ग्रन्थयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रन्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण; (अव्ययवत्) प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे—‘ten (in number)’

• कर्तव्याः: should be made
• कर्तव्याः: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृ-धातोः तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृत्य-प्रत्ययः (gerundive/obligatory); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्—‘to be made’

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• तन्तु-सङ्ख्यया: by the number of threads
• तन्तु-सङ्ख्यया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tantu-saṅkhyā = number of threads)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Preparation of aromatic/medicinal boluses or knotted sachets using standardized unit-counts for consistent dosing and ritual-perfumery use.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kasturi–Gorocana–Karpura Granthi (Aromatic Bolus/Knotted Units)","lookup_keywords":["kasturi","gorocana","karpura","haridra","granthi"],"quick_summary":"Make aromatic units (granthi) from musk, gorocanā, camphor, turmeric, etc., standardized as ten units or by a thread-count measure to ensure repeatable quantity."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa (standard measure) in applied formulations.

Application: Adopt fixed unit-counts/measurement proxies (thread-count) for reproducible preparation and safe handling of concentrated substances.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Rasayana / Aushadhi-kalpa (medicinal and perfumery formulations)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An apothecary-priest compounding musk, gorocanā, camphor, and turmeric into small knotted boluses, counting ten units and measuring with a thread.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, temple apothecary scene, priest grinding aromatics on stone slab, small granthi knots laid in a row of ten, warm earthy palette, stylized ornaments, flat perspective.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly detailed ritual-perfumery preparation, gold-leaf accents on containers of kasturi and karpura, ten boluses displayed on a tray, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing ingredients labeled in Devanagari, thread used as measuring standard, neat arrangement of granthi units, delicate linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly atelier-apothecary, fine jars of aromatics, artisan tying small sachets, precise counting gesture, detailed textiles and margins."}

Audio Atmosphere

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: चन्द्रैर्→चन्द्रैः; हरिद्रागैर्→हरिद्रा-आगैः; इकादिभिः→इक-आदिभिः; तन्तुसङ्ख्यया→तन्तु-सङ्ख्यया.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (Rasayana/Aushadhi-kalpa section context)

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Kasturi (musk)
• Gorocana
• Camphor
• Haridra (turmeric)

FAQs

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

It gives a practical preparation rule for an aromatic/medicinal compound: combine specified substances (musk, gorocanā, camphor, turmeric, etc.) and form them into ten granthi (knotted/pellet-like units), or measure the batch by an established thread-count standard.

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

Beyond mythology, it preserves technical craft knowledge—ingredient lists and measurable manufacturing standards—typical of Ayurvedic and ritual-material manuals embedded inside the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging subjects.

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

Such formulations commonly function as purified ritual aids (for fragrance, offering, anointing, or sanctifying use); preparing them correctly supports śauca (purity) and the efficacy of devotional or protective rites that employ scented substances.