Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 21
Chapter 39 — भूपरिग्रहविधानम्
Bhū-parigraha-vidhāna: Procedure for Acquiring and Ritually Securing Land
नद्यद्रिषु इति ख, ग, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकत्रयपाठः यवाष्टकैर् अङ्गुलं स्याच्चतुर्विंशाङ्गुलः करः चतुरङ्गुलसंयुक्तः स हस्तः पद्महस्तकः
nadyadriṣu iti kha, ga, ṅa, cihnitapustakatrayapāṭhaḥ yavāṣṭakair aṅgulaṃ syāccaturviṃśāṅgulaḥ karaḥ caturaṅgulasaṃyuktaḥ sa hastaḥ padmahastakaḥ
ਖ, ਗ ਅਤੇ ਙ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਤਿੰਨ ਹਸਤਲਿਖਤਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਠ “ਨਦ੍ਯਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ੁ” ਹੈ। ਅੱਠ ਯਵ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਅੰਗੁਲ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ; ਚੌਵੀ ਅੰਗੁਲ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਕਰ; ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਚਾਰ ਅੰਗੁਲ ਜੋੜਨ ਨਾਲ ਉਹ ਹਸਤ ਕਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ‘ਪਦਮਹਸਤ’ ਆਖਦੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework, teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Standardizes core anthropometric/craft measures (aṅgula, kara, hasta/padma-hasta) for temple planning and iconometric proportioning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Aṅgula–Kara–Hasta (Padma-hasta) measure definitions","lookup_keywords":["aṅgula","yava","kara","hasta","padma-hasta"],"quick_summary":"Defines aṅgula as 8 yavas; kara as 24 aṅgulas; and a hasta formed by adding 4 aṅgulas to that measure, termed padma-hasta—used for consistent śilpa/vāstu measurement."}
Concept: Precision and shared standards enable sacred construction and image-making to be repeatable and ritually valid.
Application: Use these conversions when drafting temple plans, carving images, or specifying dimensions in contracts/śilpa manuals.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Pramāṇa-vidyā (iconometry and measurement science)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A craftsman’s measuring board shows barley grains grouped into eights to form an aṅgula; a scale marks 24 aṅgulas as a kara; then an extended mark adds 4 aṅgulas to indicate the padma-hasta, with labels and tick marks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural instructional scene: sthapati with measuring rod, stylized barley grains, marked ruler with aṅgula divisions, larger segments labeled kara and padma-hasta, temple-plan faintly in background, earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: artisan and measuring rod with gold-highlighted tick marks, barley grains rendered as gold ovals, inscriptions ‘aṅgula’, ‘kara’, ‘padma-hasta’, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style technical plate: precise ruler diagram, 8-yava = aṅgula, 24-aṅgula = kara, +4 aṅgula = padma-hasta, clear annotations, minimal decorative elements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature workshop scene: artisan with measuring stick, assistant holding barley grains, annotated margins showing conversions, fine textile and tool detail, architectural drawing sheet nearby"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यवाष्टकैर् = यवाष्टकैः (विसर्ग/रेफ-सन्धि लेखन); स्याच्चतुर्विंशाङ्गुलः = स्यात् + चतुर्विंश-अङ्गुलः (च्-आगम/संयोग); नद्यद्रिषु is treated as नदि-अद्रिषु (द्वन्द्व) per variant note.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 39 (māna-paribhāṣā continuing from trasareṇu/yava to aṅgula/hasta)
FAQs
It defines a hierarchy of traditional measurement units—yava → aṅgula → kara → hasta (padma-hasta)—used in Vāstu, temple-building, and image-making to keep proportions standardized.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical technical sciences; here it records metrological standards essential for architecture and iconometry, showing the text’s coverage of applied knowledge alongside ritual and doctrine.
Accurate pramāṇas ensure that sacred structures and images are proportionate and ritually fit, supporting correct worship (pūjā) and the merit (puṇya) associated with properly executed religious construction.