Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
भागमेकं त्रिधा भक्त्वा पार्ष्णिभागं प्रकल्पयेत् भागमेकं तथा जानौ ग्रीवायां भागमेव च
bhāgamekaṃ tridhā bhaktvā pārṣṇibhāgaṃ prakalpayet bhāgamekaṃ tathā jānau grīvāyāṃ bhāgameva ca
เมื่อแบ่งหน่วยวัดหนึ่งหน่วยออกเป็นสามส่วน พึงกำหนดส่วนสำหรับส้นเท้า เช่นเดียวกันให้กำหนดหนึ่งส่วนสำหรับเข่า และหนึ่งส่วนสำหรับคอ (กรีวา)
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic Dhanurveda section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Body-target proportioning for martial training: allocating measured segments to key body points (heel, knee, neck) for stance alignment, armor fitting, or target/vital-point mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṅga-māna-vibhāga for pādānta-jānu-grīvā (heel–knee–neck allocation)","lookup_keywords":["Dhanurveda","aṅga-māna","pārṣṇi","jānu","grīvā"],"quick_summary":"Gives a proportional rule: subdivide a unit into three for the heel portion, and assign one unit each for knee and neck—used to standardize bodily mapping in training and application."}
Concept: Discipline through measure: martial efficacy depends on precise bodily knowledge and standardized training metrics.
Application: In archery/weapon drills, mark body reference points (heel, knee, neck) using consistent units to teach posture, distance, and safe/unsafe strike zones.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Archery & Martial Technique: body-target measurement and vital/joint points)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A martial instructor demonstrates a human figure with measured segments marked at heel, knee, and neck; a unit is shown divided into three for the heel; students observe with measuring cord/rod.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, training ground, guru pointing to heel/knee/neck on a standing warrior, measurement marks painted as bands, traditional attire, dynamic yet orderly composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, warrior figure with ornate belt and minimal weapons, gold highlights, measurement bands at heel/knee/neck, instructor and students with ritualized dignity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic anatomy overlay on a standing figure, clear proportional ticks, instructor holding measuring rod, calm instructional palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly training scene, instructor marking proportions on a trainee, fine textiles, precise lines indicating segmented measures, subtle landscape background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhāgamekaṃ → bhāgam ekam; bhāgameva → bhāgam eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Dhanurveda sections on aṅga-lakṣaṇa, marmas/targets, and training rules (elsewhere in the text)
FAQs
A Dhanurveda measurement rule: it specifies proportional units to be used when marking or aiming at anatomical points—heel, knee, and neck—by dividing a standard measure and assigning defined portions.
It shows the Purana preserving practical military-science details (Dhanurveda), including quantified body-based targeting/measurement conventions—alongside theology, ritual, and other disciplines.
Primarily pragmatic rather than devotional: it reflects dharma-governed discipline in warfare/skill-training, implying that even martial practice should follow precise, rule-based knowledge rather than impulsive violence.