Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 33
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
नगरग्रामखेटादौ वास्तुः शतपदो ऽपि वा वंशद्वयं कोणगतं दुर्जयं दुर्धरं सदा
nagaragrāmakheṭādau vāstuḥ śatapado 'pi vā vaṃśadvayaṃ koṇagataṃ durjayaṃ durdharaṃ sadā
Dans l’aménagement d’une ville, d’un village ou d’un hameau (kheṭa), même si le site est disposé en Śatapada (grille vāstu de cent cases), un « vaṃśa-dvaya » (double poutre/double lignée) placé en position d’angle est toujours tenu pour difficile à surmonter et difficile à soutenir.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Town/village planning and site-assessment: identifying a structural/layout defect (vaṃśa-dvaya in a corner) even within a 100-square grid, to prevent instability and persistent obstacles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śatapada vāstu-doṣa: vaṃśa-dvaya in corner (koṇa-gata)","lookup_keywords":["śatapada vāstu","nagara grāma kheṭa planning","vaṃśa-dvaya koṇa doṣa","durjaya durdhara"],"quick_summary":"In settlement planning, a corner-placed ‘double vaṃśa’ is treated as a persistent vāstu fault—hard to remedy and difficult to sustain—so it should be avoided or corrected in design."}
Concept: Doṣa-parīkṣā (fault-diagnosis) in spatial design: certain corner conditions create enduring instability.
Application: During layout, inspect corners for the specified vaṃśa-dvaya condition; redesign orientation/plot division or apply corrective rites/structural adjustments per vāstu practice.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Town/Settlement Planning and Site-Assessment)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom/Settlement
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A planner examines a śatapada (10x10) settlement grid; a highlighted corner shows a problematic ‘double vaṃśa’ line/beam alignment, with notes indicating it is difficult to remedy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized 10x10 grid as town plan, corner marked in contrasting color with doubled beam/line motif, planners in traditional attire gesturing, bold outlines and flat palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-accented grid and corner highlight, ornate border, architect holding measuring tools, corner defect symbolized by two crossing bamboo/beam motifs, rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical illustration of 10x10 śatapada, corner cell annotated ‘vaṃśa-dvaya’, calm instructional scene with ruler/cord, fine linework for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, urban planners around a parchment map of a town grid, corner defect emphasized with red ink, detailed buildings sketched around, refined brushwork and perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नगरग्रामखेटादौ = नगर-ग्राम-खेट-आदौ; शतपदोऽपि = शतपदः + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (vāstu grids: 81/100 padas; site faults and remedies)
FAQs
It gives a vāstu-technical caution: in settlement or site planning (even on a Śatapada grid), a specific corner-positioned ‘double-member’ condition (vaṃśa-dvaya) is treated as a persistent doṣa—hard to remedy and hard to maintain.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied sciences like vāstu-śāstra—covering practical rules for cities, villages, and building-grids, including defect-identification and risk assessment in construction planning.
In vāstu thought, uncorrected doṣas are believed to generate ongoing obstruction and instability for occupants; this verse frames the corner ‘vaṃśa-dvaya’ condition as especially persistent, implying the need for avoidance or corrective measures to prevent sustained adversity.