Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 12
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
तिर्यगूर्ध्वं समं खाताद्वहिरर्धन्तु शोधयेत् अङ्गुलस्य चतुर्थांशं शेषार्धार्धं तथान्ततः
tiryagūrdhvaṃ samaṃ khātādvahirardhantu śodhayet aṅgulasya caturthāṃśaṃ śeṣārdhārdhaṃ tathāntataḥ
Daripada garisan yang telah digali (parit/lubang), hendaklah disempurnakan dan diratakan bahagian luar dengan ukuran yang sama, baik mendatar mahupun menegak, dengan membuang ketidakteraturan hingga kadar separuh. Kemudian, daripada satu aṅgula, hendaklah ditolak satu perempat; dan akhirnya, baki itu dikurangkan lagi menjadi separuh.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Finishing and truing rules for excavation: equalizing horizontal/vertical lines, removing half of irregularities, then fine reduction by quarter-aṅgula and successive halving for precise final dimensions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kuṇḍa Excavation Finishing: Truing, Quarter-Aṅgula Trimming, Successive Halving","lookup_keywords":["khātā (excavation)","tiryag-ūrdhva sama","śodhana (truing)","aṅgula-caturthāṃśa","ardhārdha"],"quick_summary":"After digging, true the outer lines evenly in horizontal and vertical planes; remove irregularities by half, then refine by trimming a quarter of an aṅgula and finally halving the remainder for exact finish."}
Concept: Saṃskāra (refinement) proceeds by successive approximation—coarse correction followed by fine trimming.
Application: Apply staged finishing passes in construction: first correct major deviations, then use small-unit trimming (quarter-aṅgula) and final halving to reach precise tolerances.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Architectural measurement and excavation rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Workers true the pit edges with plumb and level lines; a master measures an aṅgula scale, marks a quarter-aṅgula trim, and demonstrates successive halving to refine the final boundary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, craftsmen smoothing pit walls, priest-architect holding a measuring scale, horizontal and vertical guide lines drawn, emphasis on disciplined finishing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on measuring scale and guide lines, master indicating quarter-aṅgula trimming, assistants smoothing edges, ornate border framing a technical scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional cross-section: horizontal/vertical truing, annotations for half-removal and quarter-aṅgula trim, final halving step shown as sequential panels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed tools (plumb bob, straightedge), master draftsman marking quarter-aṅgula on a scale, workers shaving the rim, refined architectural realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तिर्यगूर्ध्वम् = तिर्यक् + ऊर्ध्वम् (द्वन्द्व); खाताद्वहिरर्धन्तु = खातात् + वहिः + अर्धम् + तु; चतुर्थांशम् = चतुर्थ + अंशम्; शेषार्धार्धम् = शेष + अर्ध + अर्ध; तथान्ततः = तथा + अन्ततः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (post-excavation finishing and measurement corrections)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-śāstra rule for finishing an excavation: the outer edges are to be made uniform in horizontal and vertical planes, using fractional reductions (half, then a quarter of an aṅgula, then halving the remainder) to achieve precise truing and leveling.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied technical standards—here, construction metrology and workmanship—showing it functions as a compendium that includes architecture, measurement units, and procedural rules alongside ritual and mythic material.
In Vāstu thought, precise, well-leveled construction is a form of śuddhi (purificatory correctness) that prevents doṣa (structural/ritual faults) and supports auspiciousness in the resulting dwelling or sacred structure.