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
നിർദ്ദിഷ്ട മാർഗരേഖ അനുസരിച്ച് ആദ്യം ഖാതം (കുഴി/കണ്ടകം) ചെയ്യിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ ഒരു ഹസ്ത-പ്രമാണമുള്ള ഗർത്തം (കുഴി) ഖനിക്കണം.
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.