Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 65
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
पदं रथस्य नागस्य पुष्करिण्यसिपुत्रिका एते बन्धास् तथा चान्ये एवं ज्ञेयाः स्वयं बुधैः
padaṃ rathasya nāgasya puṣkariṇyasiputrikā ete bandhās tathā cānye evaṃ jñeyāḥ svayaṃ budhaiḥ
‘ਪਦੰ’, ‘ਰਥਸ੍ਯ’, ‘ਨਾਗਸ੍ਯ’, ‘ਪੁਸ਼ਕਰਿਣੀ’, ‘ਅਸਿਪੁਤ੍ਰਿਕਾ’—ਇਹ ਬੰਧਾਂ (ਬੰਨ੍ਹਤ/ਵਿਨਿਆਸ) ਦੇ ਪਰਿਭਾਸ਼ਿਕ ਨਾਮ ਹਨ; ਅਤੇ ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ ਨਾਮ ਵੀ ਵਿਦਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਇਸ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਸਮਝਣੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Terminology for structural bindings/joints (bandha) used by builders and craftsmen to specify join-types in construction and fabrication.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bandha (binding/join) terms: Pada, Rathasya, Nāgasya, Puṣkariṇī, Asiputrikā","lookup_keywords":["bandha","pada","rathasya","nāgasya","puṣkariṇī"],"quick_summary":"Provides a technical vocabulary of bandha/join names; the learned should recognize these as conventional labels for specific fastening patterns in building and craft practice."}
Concept: Technical language (saṃjñā) as the backbone of transmissible craft knowledge.
Application: Standardize communication on-site: specify bandha type by name to ensure correct join selection, safety, and repeatability across teams.
Khanda Section: Vastu & Nirmāṇa-śāstra (Terminology of architectural/structural bindings and joins)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A master builder instructs apprentices, pointing to wooden/stone members joined with different fastening patterns labeled ‘pada’, ‘rathasya’, ‘nāgasya’, ‘puṣkariṇī’, ‘asiputrikā’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sthapati with measuring cord and stylus, apprentices holding beams, visible join patterns with small Sanskrit labels, workshop near a temple site, earthy palette and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate depiction of a sthapati demonstrating joinery on a polished beam, gold accents on tools and joint edges, rich architectural backdrop, labeled bandha names in cartouches.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style technical plate, clean sectional drawings of five join types with labels, master craftsman at side, emphasis on clarity and proportion, soft washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, construction atelier with craftsmen, detailed depiction of joints and bindings on timber frames, calligraphed labels on slips, architectural setting with fine perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: puṣkariṇyasiputrikā = puṣkariṇī asi-putrikā. bandhās tathā cānye = bandhāḥ tathā ca anye. jñeyāḥ svayaṃ budhaiḥ: passive/gerundive with agent in instrumental.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vastu/Nirmāṇa sections (temple-house construction, measurements, materials—chapter numbering varies by recension); Agni Purana 342 (miscellaneous encyclopedic entries; here bandha terminology)
FAQs
It catalogs specialized vāstu/nirmāṇa terminology—names for different kinds of bandha (bindings/fastenings/joints) used in construction or structural fitting.
By preserving a glossary-style list of technical terms (here, bandha-names), it functions like a reference manual alongside the Purāṇa’s ritual, dharma, and other śāstric materials.
Its primary aim is practical precision: correct understanding of śāstric terminology supports accurate execution of prescribed works (karma), which in Purāṇic framing helps ensure order (dharma) and the intended merit of properly done undertakings.