Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 16

वागीश्वरीपूजा

The Worship of Vāgīśvarī

Devanagari script

सन्धिसूत्रार्धमानेन पृष्ठतः परिवर्तयेत् तीक्ष्णाग्रन्तु सुवातेन कमलं भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्

Transliteration

sandhisūtrārdhamānena pṛṣṭhataḥ parivartayet tīkṣṇāgrantu suvātena kamalaṃ bhuktimuktidam

Translation

Com uma medida igual à metade do comprimento do sandhi-sūtra (sutura de junção), deve-se girá-lo pelo lado posterior; e, com um instrumento de ponta aguda e por meio de uma corrente de ar bem dirigida, prepara-se/aplica-se o lótus (kamala), que concede tanto bhukti (fruição mundana) quanto mukti (libertação).

Word by Word

• सन्धि-सूत्र-अर्ध-मानेन: by the measure of half of the sandhi-thread
• सन्धि-सूत्र-अर्ध-मानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (सन्धेः सूत्रम्; सूत्रस्य अर्धम्; अर्धस्य मानम्)

• पृष्ठतः: from behind / at the back
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• परिवर्तयेत्: should rotate/turn
• परिवर्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense in usage ‘cause to turn/rotate’

• तीक्ष्ण-अग्रम्: the sharp tip/point
• तीक्ष्ण-अग्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (तीक्ष्णं च तत् अग्रं)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, contrast/emphasis)

• सु-वातेन: with a good/steady wind (air-flow)
• सु-वातेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु=शोभनः वातः)

• कमलम्: lotus (diagram/lotus-form)
• कमलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दम्: granting enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च ददाति इति)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Guidance for a precise therapeutic/surgical manipulation using measured turning from the posterior side and a sharp instrument aided by directed airflow; also hints at a lotus-based device/construct used for desired outcomes.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sandhi-sūtra Half-Measure Turning with Sharp Tip and Directed Air (Kamala-prayoga)","lookup_keywords":["sandhi-sutra","ardha-mana","tikshnagra","suvata","kamala-prayoga"],"quick_summary":"Perform the operation/adjustment using a half sandhi-sūtra measure, turning from the back, employing a sharp-pointed tool and a controlled air-current; the ‘kamala’ is presented as outcome-bestowing (bhukti/mukti)."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Union of precise technique (māna/vidhi) with efficacy aimed at both bhukti and mukti.

Application: Treat procedures as disciplined sādhanā: exact measurement, correct directionality, and controlled application of force/breath.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies and therapeutic procedures)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner carefully turns/adjusts a lotus-like device or therapeutic setup from the posterior side, using a sharp-pointed instrument while an assistant directs a controlled stream of air; the lotus motif symbolizes efficacy and auspicious outcome.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, a vaidya-practitioner performing a measured procedure on a lotus-shaped yantra, assistant fanning to create a directed air-current, palm-leaf measures and instruments shown, sacred clinical calm, flat stylized forms","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate lotus device at center with gold-leaf highlights, practitioner holding a sharp stylus-like instrument, assistant with fan creating airflow, auspicious bhukti-mukti symbolism with subtle halo motifs, rich textiles and architectural frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional depiction of half-measure marking, posterior turning action, sharp tip tool and airflow direction arrows subtly integrated, lotus diagram emphasized","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop/clinic interior, precise instruments, attendant directing air with a fan, lotus apparatus on a low table, fine borders and calligraphic labels for māna and tīkṣṇāgra"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सन्धिसूत्रार्धमानेन = सन्धि-सूत्र-अर्ध-मानेन; तीक्ष्णाग्रन्तु = तीक्ष्ण-अग्रम् तु; सुवातेन = सु-वातेन; भुक्तिमुक्तिदम् = भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दम्

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 319 (yantra/mantra-vastu interleaving sections)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Kamala (Lotus)

FAQs

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

It gives a technical procedural instruction using a precise measure (“half the sandhi-sūtra”), a directional manipulation (“from the back side, rotate/turn”), and the use of a sharp-pointed instrument with controlled airflow—framed within an Ayurvedic/therapeutic context involving “kamala” (lotus).

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

Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical knowledge—here, a procedural/medical style instruction with measurement, instrumentation, and technique—illustrating its wide scope that includes Ayurveda-like practical science.

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

By stating that the kamala is “bhukti-mukti-dam,” the verse ties a practical application to a dual aim: supporting worldly well-being (bhukti) while also being conducive to spiritual release (mukti), a common Purāṇic framing of beneficial practices.