Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 33

Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ

Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms

Devanagari script

वक्षसो यत् प्रमाणन्तु जठरं तत्प्रमाणतः अङ्गुलैकं भवेन्नाभी वेधेन च प्रमाणतः

Transliteration

vakṣaso yat pramāṇantu jaṭharaṃ tatpramāṇataḥ aṅgulaikaṃ bhavennābhī vedhena ca pramāṇataḥ

Translation

สัดส่วนของทรวงอกเท่าใด ท้องพึงมีสัดส่วนเท่านั้น. สะดือพึงกว้างหนึ่งอังคุละ และพึงวัดตามวิธีการวัดที่กำหนด (เวธะ) ด้วย.

Word by Word

• वक्षसः: of the chest
• वक्षसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (neuter, genitive singular: 'of the chest')

• यत्: which (measure)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म) (relative to pramāṇam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.: 'which/that')

• प्रमाणम्: measure
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (कर्ता) (in relative clause: 'the measure is...')
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.: 'measure')

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• जठरम्: belly/abdomen
• जठरम्: Karta (कर्ता) (equated with pramāṇam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.)

• तत्-प्रमाणतः: according to that measure
• तत्-प्रमाणतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (adverbial basis/standard)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित, अव्ययीभावार्थ) → प्रमाणतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निर्मित अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial: 'according to that measure')

• अङ्गुल-एकम्: one finger-breadth
• अङ्गुल-एकम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Parimana (परिमाण-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom./acc. sg.); कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'one finger-breadth')

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्ग, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative, 3rd sg: 'should be/become')

• नाभी: navel
• नाभी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine, nominative singular)

• वेधेन: by (a) piercing
• वेधेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (masc. instrumental singular: 'by piercing/with a perforation')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• प्रमाणतः: according to measure
• प्रमाणतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (adverbial standard)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित) → प्रमाणतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (adverb: 'according to measure')

Speaker

Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Setting torso proportions (chest, belly, navel size) for sculpting and painting canonical bodies in icons.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vakṣa–Jaṭhara Sāmya & Nābhi-pramāṇa","lookup_keywords":["vakṣa-pramāṇa","jaṭhara-pramāṇa","nābhi-aṅgula","vedha","aṅga-pramāṇa"],"quick_summary":"The belly should match the chest in measure; the navel is fixed at one aṅgula and verified by the prescribed gauging method (vedha)."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sāmya (proportional harmony) as a marker of auspicious form (lakṣaṇa).

Application: Use proportional equivalences to maintain visual harmony in icons and avoid distortions.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Vastu / Shilpa-shastra (Iconometry and bodily proportions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An iconometric grid overlays a deity torso, showing chest and belly equal widths and a one-aṅgula navel marked by a measuring pin (vedha).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal deity torso with faint measurement lines, artisan marking the navel point with a stylus, subdued temple atelier background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold halo and ornaments, subtle proportional grid on torso, navel marked precisely, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional overlay: chest and belly equal measures, navel labeled ‘1 aṅgula’, tools on the side.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with master measuring a model/icon torso using a string and pin for vedha, detailed textiles and instruments."}

Audio Atmosphere

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रमाणन्तु = प्रमाणम् + तु; तत्प्रमाणतः = तत्-प्रमाणतः; अङ्गुलैकं = अङ्गुल-एकम्; भवेन्नाभी = भवेत् + नाभी.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 44 (aṅga-pramāṇa continuation: torso and lower-body measures)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vasiṣṭha
• Pramāṇa
• Śilpa-śāstra
• Vāstu

FAQs

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

It teaches śilpa/vāstu iconometric rules: the belly should match the chest in proportion, and the navel’s size is fixed at one aṅgula, verified using the technical measuring method called vedha.

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

Beyond theology, it preserves practical canons used by sculptors and temple-builders—standardized bodily proportions and measurement techniques—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied arts (śilpa-śāstra) alongside ritual and doctrine.

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

Correct proportion in sacred images supports ritual efficacy (proper pratimā-lakṣaṇa), helping ensure the deity’s form is ritually “fit” for installation and worship, which is traditionally linked to merit (puṇya) and purity of practice.