Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 35
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
न तस्य फलसम्पत्तिर्वक्तुं शक्येत केनचित् अनेनैवानुमेयं हि फलं प्रासादविस्तरात्
na tasya phalasampattirvaktuṃ śakyeta kenacit anenaivānumeyaṃ hi phalaṃ prāsādavistarāt
न तस्य फलसमृद्धिं कश्चिदपि सम्यग्वक्तुं शक्नोति। अस्य प्रासादस्य विस्तारेणैव तद् फलम् अनुमाननीयम्।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Using temple scale/extent as a proxy for estimating the religious merit (puṇya) attributed to construction and patronage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Phala-anumāna from Prāsāda-vistāra (Merit inferred from temple scale)","lookup_keywords":["prāsāda-vistāra","phala","puṇya","anumāna","prāsāda-phala"],"quick_summary":"The verse states that the full reward of temple-building is beyond complete verbal description; one may infer the magnitude of merit from the temple’s extent/scale."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti (hyperbole)
Concept: Karmaphala is immeasurable in speech; magnitude can be inferred from the scale of dhārmic action (temple-building).
Application: In patronage decisions, treat larger, well-executed sacred construction as carrying proportionally greater religious merit, while acknowledging merit ultimately exceeds enumeration.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa (Temple Architecture and Measurements)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shraddha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand temple complex shown in expanding scale, with patrons and artisans; a sage indicates that the merit is inferred from the temple’s vastness rather than fully spoken.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, wide prāsāda with layered roofs, priests and donors in traditional attire, a seated ṛṣi gesturing to the temple’s vast extent, warm earthy palette, sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central towering prāsāda with gold-leaf highlights, donors offering lamps and flowers, ornate borders, emphasis on grandeur and auspicious merit","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: architect and patron measuring the temple footprint, subtle inscriptions indicating ‘phala inferred from vistāra’, delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic temple construction scene with craftsmen, patrons, and a learned figure pointing to the completed large shrine, fine architectural detailing and courtly composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: फलसम्पत्तिः = फल-सम्पत्तिः; वक्तुं; अनेनैव = अनेन + एव; प्रासादविस्तरात् = प्रासाद-विस्तरात्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa context); Agni Purana 42 (Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa begins immediately after)
FAQs
It teaches a Vāstu/ritual principle: the spiritual reward (phala) of building or sponsoring a prāsāda is proportionate to its vistarā (scale/extent), and the full measure of that merit is beyond verbal enumeration.
By linking architectural parameters (temple extent/measure) with karmic outcomes (phala), it shows how the Agni Purana integrates Vāstu-śāstra, ritual practice, and dharmic merit—typical of its wide, encyclopedic scope.
It frames temple construction as a high-merit act whose rewards are vast and scale with the magnitude of the sacred work, encouraging generous, well-executed religious building as a means of accruing puṇya.