Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 5
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
जायते तत्र कर्तव्यं भद्रस्वेदकरं शुभम् वसुभक्तेन्दु द्विपदे क्षेत्रे वीथी च भागिका
jāyate tatra kartavyaṃ bhadrasvedakaraṃ śubham vasubhaktendu dvipade kṣetre vīthī ca bhāgikā
उसमें कल्याणकारी ‘भद्र’ रचना करनी चाहिए, जो शीतलता दे और शुभ हो। दो पद-परिमित क्षेत्र में वसु-, भक्त-, और इन्दु-प्रमाण के अनुसार ‘वीथी’ (मुख्य मार्ग) तथा ‘भागिका’ (विभाग/खण्ड) भी बनानी चाहिए।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Planning a settlement/field layout with streets and plot-division using prescribed proportional modules (vasu/bhakta/indu), aiming at comfort (cooling, well-being) and auspiciousness.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vīthī–Bhāgikā Vinyāsa in a Two-Pada Kṣetra (Vasu/Bhakta/Indu Proportions)","lookup_keywords":["vīthī","bhāgikā","dvipada-kṣetra","vasu-bhakta-indu","land-planning"],"quick_summary":"In a two-pada measured field, establish a main avenue (vīthī) and proportional plot divisions (bhāgikā) according to named modules, prioritizing auspiciousness and thermal comfort."}
Concept: Built space should serve loka-hita: auspiciousness, equitable division, and bodily comfort are dharmic aims of planning.
Application: When laying out villages/quarters/fields, include a primary thoroughfare and fair plot shares; adopt proportion systems to standardize widths, spacing, and ventilation.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Kshetra/Vithi-Vinyasa and Land-Planning)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A planned two-pada field shown as a gridded layout: a central/main street (vīthī) running through, plots divided into shares (bhāgikā), with design features suggesting cooling—trees, water channel, shaded arcades.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; schematic town/field plan with bold lines; vīthī highlighted; plots in rhythmic blocks; stylized trees and water for cooling; auspicious symbols at entrances; warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; decorative aerial plan with gold accents on the main avenue and plot borders; lush trees and a small tank; auspicious kalasha motifs; rich reds/greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; instructional urban-plan illustration: labeled vīthī and bhāgikā; proportional modules (vasu/bhakta/indu) indicated as measurement bars; clean, readable geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; bird’s-eye view of an estate with a straight avenue, subdivided garden-like plots, water rills, and shaded pavilions; fine detailing of trees and pathways."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhadrasvedakaraṃ → bhadra-sveda-karam; vasubhaktendu appears as a compound/technical term (reading uncertain); dvipade is dvigu (dvi+pada).
Related Themes: Agni Purana vāstu sections on vīthī-vinyāsa, kṣetra-māna, and bhāga-vibhāga (adjacent material)
FAQs
It gives a Vastu-shastra rule for planning a plot: in a two-pada field, provide a vīthī (street/avenue) and divide the land into bhāgikā (shares/plots) using named proportional schemes (vasu/bhakta/indu).
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical architectural science—standard measures, proportional canons, and urban/plot layout—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium of applied knowledge like Vastu and civil planning.
Designing a dwelling/settlement as śubha and bhadra is treated as dharmic: correct, auspicious planning is believed to support prosperity, comfort, and harmonious living conditions for occupants.