Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 2
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra and Related Details
Dīkṣā, Maṇḍala, Nyāsa, Japa, Homa, Siddhi, Mokṣa
नवभागविभागेन कोष्ठकान् कारयेद्बुधः ग्राह्या दिशागताः कोष्ठा विदिशासु विनाशयेत्
navabhāgavibhāgena koṣṭhakān kārayedbudhaḥ grāhyā diśāgatāḥ koṣṭhā vidiśāsu vināśayet
賢明な設計者は敷地を九分して区画（koṣṭha）を造るべきである。主要方位に沿う区画は採用し、中間方位に当たる区画は退けて除去する。
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Planning a vastu-maṇḍala by dividing a plot into a 3×3 grid and selecting auspicious directional cells while eliminating/avoiding inauspicious intercardinal placements for key functions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nava-bhāga (3×3) Koṣṭha-vibhāga and Directional Selection","lookup_keywords":["navabhāga","koṣṭha","dik-koṣṭha","vidiśā","maṇḍala-vibhāga"],"quick_summary":"Divide the site into nine compartments; prioritize cells aligned to the cardinal directions and avoid/clear those aligned to intermediate directions when assigning critical placements."}
Concept: Dik (direction) as a regulator of auspicious spatial order; correct division and selection prevents doṣa in habitation/ritual space.
Application: Use a 3×3 zoning map to decide what to keep, place, or remove before construction/installation.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Town-planning and Architectural Layout)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A master planner marks a square plot, draws a 3×3 grid, highlights the four cardinal-direction cells as acceptable and crosses out the intercardinal cells as to be removed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, earthy pigments, a vāstu-ācārya with stylus and measuring cord drawing a 3×3 maṇḍala on a ground-plaster square, cardinal directions indicated with traditional symbols, calm instructional mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on the square maṇḍala border, the planner seated with palm-leaf manual, the accepted dik-koṣṭhas gilded, rejected vidiśā cells muted, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework and soft colors, clear geometric 3×3 diagram with labels for dik and vidiśā, artisan demonstrating measurement with cord and square.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architectural draughtsman in a courtly setting drawing a nine-part plan on paper, precise geometry, marginal notes marking cardinal vs intercardinal cells."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कारयेद्बुधः → कारयेत् + बुधः; दिशागताः → दिशा + गताः (समास/सन्धि); विनाशयेत् is optative causative form.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu-maṇḍala and rekhā-vinyāsa sections (same khanda around 310); Agni Purana temple/house layout prescriptions in Vāstu chapters
FAQs
It teaches a Vastu planning rule: divide the plot into a nine-part grid and prefer compartments aligned to cardinal directions, avoiding those placed in intercardinal (vidiśā) zones.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied sciences like Vastu-shastra—practical spatial geometry and directional design rules used in construction and settlement planning.
Following directionally auspicious layout principles is treated as harmonizing a building with cosmic order (disha-niyama), reducing inauspicious influences and supporting welfare and stability for occupants.