Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26

Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्

Installation of Deities in a Temple

Devanagari script

कुद्दालटङ्कशस्त्राद्यं मध्वान्याक्तमुखञ्चरेत् आत्मानं चिन्तयेद्विष्णुं शिल्पिनं विश्वकर्मकं

Transliteration

kuddālaṭaṅkaśastrādyaṃ madhvānyāktamukhañcaret ātmānaṃ cintayedviṣṇuṃ śilpinaṃ viśvakarmakaṃ

Translation

Dengan mengambil alat dan perkakas seperti penyodok dan pahat dan seumpamanya, serta menyapu wajah dengan madu dan bahan-bahan bertuah yang lain, pengamal hendaklah meneruskan pekerjaan; dan hendaklah ia bermeditasi memikirkan dirinya sebagai Viṣṇu—serta sebagai tukang ilahi Viśvakarman.

Word by Word

• कुद्दालटङ्कशस्त्राद्यम्: including spade, chisel, weapons, etc.
• कुद्दालटङ्कशस्त्राद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुद्दाल + टङ्क + शस्त्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘-आद्यम्’ = ‘beginning with/including’ (ādya) qualifying an implied object (e.g., उपकरणम्)

• मधु: with honey
• मधु: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन (used with ‘ānya’ as ‘with honey’)

• आन्य: with unguent/ointment (ritual substance)
• आन्य: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्रव्यविशेष (a substance; often ‘ghee/ointment’ in ritual contexts)

• आक्तमुखम्: with the face/mouth smeared
• आक्तमुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-ञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आक्त’ (smeared) qualifying ‘मुख’ (mouth/face): ‘with mouth/face smeared’

• चरेत्: should move/act; should proceed
• चरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिल्पिनम्: the artisan
• शिल्पिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषणरूपेण (appositional)

• विश्वकर्मकम्: Viśvakarman (the cosmic craftsman)
• विश्वकर्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + कर्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विश्वकर्मक’ = ‘all-doer/Viśvakarman-like’ (apposition to Viṣṇu)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard narration frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मध्वान्याक्तमुखञ्चरेत् = मधु आन्य आक्तमुखम् चरेत्; चिन्तयेद्विष्णुं = चिन्तयेत् विष्णुम्.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Viśvakarman

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It prescribes a craftsman’s preparatory rite: begin work with the proper tools (spade, chisel, etc.), apply auspicious anointing (honey and similar substances), and undertake the task with a consecrated mindset.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond theology, it records practical śilpa/vāstu procedure—how artisans should ritually prepare and mentally consecrate themselves—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied arts and temple-linked technical disciplines.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By meditating on oneself as aligned with Viṣṇu and Viśvakarman, the work is sacralized: craftsmanship becomes a disciplined offering, aimed at purity of intention and merit through consecrated action.