Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 370: नरकनिरूपणम्
Naraka-nirūpaṇa) — Description of Hell (with the physiology of dying and the subtle transition
सदीर्घा वर्तुला सप्तभूमा चैव सुभूमिका दीप्तमायाष्टाविंशतयः कोटयः पापिदुःखदाः
sadīrghā vartulā saptabhūmā caiva subhūmikā dīptamāyāṣṭāviṃśatayaḥ koṭayaḥ pāpiduḥkhadāḥ
સદીર્ઘા, વર્તુલા, સપ્તભૂમા, સુભૂમિકા અને દીપ્તમાયા—આ નરકલોકો કુલ મળીને અઠ્ઠાવીસ કરોડ છે; તે પાપીઓને દુઃખ આપે છે.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Moral-cosmographic instruction: understanding Naraka-loka classifications and the scale of karmic consequence to guide ethical restraint and expiatory practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Naraka-Loka Enumeration: Sadīrghā to Dīptamāyā; Total Count","lookup_keywords":["Naraka","Sadīrghā","Vartulā","Dīptamāyā","aṣṭāviṃśati-koṭi"],"quick_summary":"Names several hell-realms and states their vast total (28 crores), emphasizing that sinful action yields structured and extensive suffering realms."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā (enumerative style)
Concept: Karma produces determinate experiential worlds; sin (pāpa) leads to graded suffering realms.
Application: Cultivate restraint (yama/niyama), perform prāyaścitta and dāna, and adopt sattvic conduct to avoid pāpa-gati.
Khanda Section: Cosmography & Naraka-Loka (Descriptions of worlds/hells and karmic retribution)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmographic underworld map: multiple hell-realms labeled Sadīrghā, Vartulā, Saptabhūmā, Subhūmikā, Dīptamāyā, with countless compartments symbolizing ‘28 crores’, flames and shadowed pits conveying suffering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, underworld cosmography with layered pits and fiery chambers, labels in Devanagari for Sadīrghā, Vartulā, Saptabhūmā, Subhūmikā, Dīptamāyā, dramatic reds and blacks, stylized demons as wardens, didactic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, framed cosmographic panel of Naraka-loka with gold borders, segmented compartments, glowing fire motifs, inscriptions of realm names, ornate but ominous aesthetic","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic cosmography like a teaching chart, neat compartments and labels, restrained flames, emphasis on count ‘aṣṭāviṃśati-koṭi’, scholarly tone","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, illustrated manuscript map of the underworld with labeled chambers, fine brushwork flames, sinners in small vignettes, marginal notes explaining the total number"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: चैव = च + एव; दीप्तमायाष्टाविंशतयः interpreted as दीप्तमाया + अष्टाविंशतयः; पापिदुःखदाः segmented as पापि-दुःख-दाः (compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 370 (Naraka-loka and naraka-vibhāga passages)
FAQs
It imparts cosmographic-ethical knowledge: specific Naraka names and the doctrinal point that these realms function as karmic consequence-zones for pāpa (sin).
By cataloging named hell-realms and quantifying them (in koṭis), the text preserves a systematic, list-based cosmology alongside moral causality—typical of the Agni Purana’s compendium style.
It reinforces that sinful actions ripen into specific forms of suffering, encouraging dharmic conduct and purification to avoid naraka-bound outcomes.