Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 29

Pratiṣṭhā-sāmagrī-vidhāna — Prescription of Materials and Conditions for Consecration

Devanagari script

पञ्चषट्सप्तहस्तानि हस्तखातस्थितानि च तदर्धविस्तराणि स्युर्युतान्याम्रदलादिभिः

Transliteration

pañcaṣaṭsaptahastāni hastakhātasthitāni ca tadardhavistarāṇi syuryutānyāmradalādibhiḥ

Translation

Ils doivent être faits de cinq, six ou sept hastas, et placés dans une tranchée d’un hasta de profondeur. Leur largeur doit être la moitié de cela, et ils doivent être assemblés/recouverts de feuilles de manguier et autres semblables.

Word by Word

• पञ्च-षट्-सप्त-हस्तानि: (measures of) five, six, and seven hastas
• पञ्च-षट्-सप्त-हस्तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + षट् (संख्या) + सप्त (संख्या) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समासः (copulative): five-, six-, and seven-hasta (measures)

• हस्त-खात-स्थितानि: situated in hand-dug pits
• हस्त-खात-स्थितानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + खात (कृदन्त; √खन्) + स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः: हस्तेन खातं (hand-dug) तत्र स्थितानि (placed/located)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• तत्-अर्ध-विस्तराणि: half of that breadth (dimensions)
• तत्-अर्ध-विस्तराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: तस्य अर्धः विस्तारः (half of that breadth)

• स्युः: should be
• स्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• युतानि: joined; furnished (with)
• युतानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज्/√यु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त/विशेषण (joined/combined)

• आम्र-दल-आदिभिः: with mango leaves and the like
• आम्र-दल-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter, collective), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः: आम्रस्य दलानि आदयः (mango leaves etc.)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Constructing and installing posts/frames (likely for toraṇa/maṇḍapa/threshold arrangements) with specified heights (5–7 hastas), trench depth (1 hasta), proportional breadth (half), and auspicious leaf coverings (mango leaves etc.).","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Post/structure installation: hasta measures, trench setting, and leaf-joining","lookup_keywords":["pañca-hasta","sapta-hasta","hastakhāta","vistarārdha","āmra-dala"],"quick_summary":"Make the members 5–7 hastas long, set them in a 1-hasta-deep trench, keep breadth at half the height proportion, and join/cover with mango leaves and similar auspicious foliage."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proportion and firm foundation (khāta-setting) as the basis of stable, auspicious structures.

Application: Ensure structural stability by correct embedment depth and proportional breadth; add maṅgala foliage (āmra leaves) as per rite.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Architecture & Construction Measurements)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Workers dig a one-hasta trench, set tall posts of 5–7 hastas, measure half-breadth proportions, and tie mango leaves and other foliage across the top to form an auspicious frame.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual courtyard with posts being installed into a trench, mango leaves tied as festoons, priests supervising, bold outlines and earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ceremonial pavilion frame with gold-highlighted borders, lush mango-leaf festoons, symmetrical composition emphasizing measured posts.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional scene: trench depth marked, post heights labeled 5/6/7 hastas, half-breadth shown, foliage tying illustrated clearly.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, construction of a festive gateway with attendants measuring and setting posts, detailed tools and textiles, mango leaves draped overhead."}

Audio Atmosphere

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: पञ्च+षट्+सप्त+हस्तानि→पञ्चषट्सप्तहस्तानि (समास/सन्धि); स्युः+युतानि→स्युर्युतानि; युतानि+आम्र…→युतान्याम्र…; आम्र+दल+आदिभिः→आम्रदलादिभिः.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 95.28 (toraṇa materials and auspicious outcomes); Agni Purana 95 (vāstu measurements and ritual fixtures)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vāstu-śāstra
• Hasta (cubits)
• Āmra-dala (mango leaves)

FAQs

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

It gives precise vāstu measurements—length in cubits, placement in a one-cubit trench, proportional width (half), and the prescribed use of mango leaves (and similar) as a practical covering/joining material.

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

Beyond theology, the text preserves applied civil-architectural standards (vāstu): proportional design, excavation depth, and material prescriptions—showing the Purana as a manual of practical arts alongside ritual and doctrine.

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

Correct construction according to śāstric proportion is treated as dharmic order (ṛta) in built space—supporting purity, safety, and auspiciousness in works connected with water and habitation.