Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 26
Chapter 40 — भूपरिग्रहो नाम
Bhū-parigraha) / अर्घ्यदानविधानम् (Arghya-dāna-vidhāna
प्रारम्भं तेन मार्गेण तस्य खातस्य कारयेत् ततो गर्तं खनेन्मध्ये हस्तमात्रं प्रमाणतः
prārambhaṃ tena mārgeṇa tasya khātasya kārayet tato gartaṃ khanenmadhye hastamātraṃ pramāṇataḥ
Mulailah dengan membuat parit (khāta) mengikuti garis jalan (mārga) yang ditetapkan. Lalu di bagian tengah, gali lubang (garta) berukuran satu hasta.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Setting out a construction line, trenching, and digging a central pit to prescribed measurements during site-preparation and foundation rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Khāta-mārga nirmāṇa and madhya-garta māna (one-hasta pit)","lookup_keywords":["khāta","mārga","garta","hasta-pramāṇa","bhū-parīkṣā"],"quick_summary":"First lay the trench along the marked line, then dig a central pit of one cubit measure; this standardizes site-preparation and subsequent testing/installation steps."}
Concept: Order (krama) and measure (pramāṇa) as the basis of auspicious construction.
Application: Use fixed measures and sequence to reduce structural/ritual faults in building works.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Construction, excavation, and site-preparation procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marked construction line on earth; workers digging a straight trench and then a central square/round pit measured to one hasta, with measuring rod and cord visible.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy ochres and greens, priests and sthapati with measuring cord (rajju) marking a straight mārga, laborers digging khāta and a central garta, stylized palms and temple compound background, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on measuring tools and ritual vessels, sthapati and priest supervising trench and central pit, ornate borders, rich reds and greens, devotional-technical mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework showing measurement (hasta) with rod and cord, labeled trench and central pit, calm instructional tableau with minimal background, soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ground plan feel, artisans digging a straight trench and central pit, precise tools, patterned garments, architectural marginalia, naturalistic shading and perspective hints."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: खनेन्मध्ये → खनेत् + मध्ये; IAST normalized as khanen madhye. Other words are largely unsandhied in the given text.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu-śāstra sections on bhū-parīkṣā, khāta/garta rites, and foundation procedures (same khanda)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-śāstra instruction for site-work: first lay and excavate the trench along the prescribed line, then dig a central pit of one hasta (cubit) as the standard measure.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical civil-engineering and architectural procedure—standardized layout (mārga), excavation (khāta), and measured pit-digging (garta, hasta-pramāṇa)—showing the Purāṇa as a compendium of applied sciences.
In Vāstu contexts, correct measurement and orderly excavation are treated as ritually proper groundwork, supporting auspiciousness and minimizing doṣa (fault) in construction undertaken for dharmic purposes.