Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 27
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
विभज्य सप्तधा क्षेत्रं चतुर्दशकरं समम् द्विधा कृते शतं ह्य् अत्र षण्नवत्यधिकानि तु वराहसिंहशक्तीनां स्थूलरूपं प्रधानतः चिन्तया रहितं रूपं वासुदेवस्य कीर्तितम्
vibhajya saptadhā kṣetraṃ caturdaśakaraṃ samam dvidhā kṛte śataṃ hy atra ṣaṇnavatyadhikāni tu varāhasiṃhaśaktīnāṃ sthūlarūpaṃ pradhānataḥ cintayā rahitaṃ rūpaṃ vāsudevasya kīrtitam
Tendo dividido o campo do diagrama sagrado em sete partes e feito dele uma medida uniforme de catorze unidades, e depois dividido em dois, há aqui cem—e mais noventa e seis além disso. Principalmente, isto é proclamado como a forma grosseira (externa) dos poderes de Varāha e Narasiṁha; e a forma de Vāsudeva é declarada livre de construção conceitual, além da fabricação mental.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s dominant narration style in instructional sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Provides proportional/diagrammatic division (kṣetra-vibhāga) for yantra-like layout tied to specific Viṣṇu-śaktis (Varāha, Narasiṃha) and points to Vāsudeva as beyond conceptual form.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṣetra-vibhāga: saptadhā division, caturdaśa-kara measure, and enumeration for Varāha–Narasiṃha śakti-forms","lookup_keywords":["ksetra-vibhaga","saptadha","caturdasha-kara","Varaha-shakti","Narasimha-shakti"],"quick_summary":"Divide the ritual field into seven parts with a fourteen-unit measure and further bisection to obtain a fixed count; this encodes gross power-forms of Varāha and Narasiṃha, while Vāsudeva is taught as beyond mental fabrication."}
Concept: Saguna (gross, conceptualizable śakti-forms) versus nirguna/acintya (Vāsudeva beyond thought).
Application: Use form and number for ritual focus, then recognize the deity’s ultimate nature as beyond conceptual construction.
Khanda Section: Murti-Lakshana & Mantra-Shastra (Iconography of Vishnu-forms; Yantra-style spatial division)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred diagram-field is measured and divided into seven and fourteen-unit proportions; Varāha and Narasiṃha śakti-placements are indicated, while Vāsudeva is shown as formless radiance beyond the grid.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large yantra-kṣetra with bold red/ochre lines divided into seven sections, subtle icons of Varāha and Narasiṃha at designated nodes, central white-gold radiance labeled Vāsudeva beyond form.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, embossed gold grid/mandala with jewel-like nodes, small ornate Varāha and Narasiṃha medallions, central unfigured golden aura representing acintya Vāsudeva.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional geometry: clear measurements (14 units), bisection lines, numbered nodes (100+96), minimal deity vignettes at placements, neat calligraphic annotations.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan-priest drawing a precise geometric field on cloth/palm-leaf, fine ruled lines, small Varāha/Narasiṃha motifs, central blank luminous circle for Vāsudeva."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣaṇnavatyadhikāni = ṣaṇnavati + adhikāni; hy atra = hi + atra.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.28–30 (koṣṭaka, bhadra, lotus/neck formation, bīja-dhyāna); Agni Purana iconography/yantra-related chapters elsewhere (murti-lakṣaṇa sections)
FAQs
It gives a technical scheme for constructing/visualizing a sacred kṣetra (diagrammatic field)—dividing it sevenfold, setting a fourteen-unit measure, then halving—used to enumerate specific counts associated with Varāha–Narasiṁha śaktis, while distinguishing Vāsudeva’s non-conceptual meditative form.
It blends quantitative diagram-measurement language (kṣetra, units, divisions, enumerations) with theological iconography (Varāha, Narasiṁha, Vāsudeva), showing how the Agni Purana integrates ritual-technical instructions and doctrinal meditation theory in a single instructional passage.
The verse frames a progression from manifest, graspable forms (sthūla-rūpa of avatar-śaktis) toward a higher contemplation of Vāsudeva as free from mental fabrication, implying purification of attention and a move from form-based worship to subtler realization.