Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
पाषाणादिष्वेव जलं पार्थिवं पृथिवीगुणं प्रतिशब्दोद्भवं शब्दं स्पर्शं स्यात् कर्कशादिकं
pāṣāṇādiṣveva jalaṃ pārthivaṃ pṛthivīguṇaṃ pratiśabdodbhavaṃ śabdaṃ sparśaṃ syāt karkaśādikaṃ
แม้ในหินและสิ่งคล้ายกันก็มีน้ำแฝงอยู่; สิ่งนั้นเป็นปารถิวะและประกอบด้วยคุณแห่งปฤถิวี. ที่นั่นเสียงเกิดเป็นปฏิศัพท (เสียงสะท้อน) และสัมผัสเป็นความหยาบกระด้างเป็นต้น
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Analyzing how elemental qualities and sensory properties manifest in composite substances (e.g., stone), supporting Vaiśeṣika-style inference and ritual material selection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Bhūta-guṇa in composites: water in stone; echo-sound; rough touch","lookup_keywords":["pāṣāṇa","āp/jala in stone","pārthiva-guṇa","pratiśabda (echo)","karkaśa-sparśa"],"quick_summary":"Explains that even in apparently solid substances like stone, other elements (water) are present, while earth-qualities dominate; sound may appear as echo and touch as roughness. Practically, it trains one to read guṇa in materials rather than assume single-element purity."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Guṇa are discerned in dravya by observation and inference: composites contain multiple bhūtas though one may predominate; sensory phenomena (echo, roughness) indicate underlying tanmātra/guṇa.
Application: Apply guṇa-reading to choose ritual materials (stone types, surfaces), to reason about nature, and to support disciplined perception (pratyakṣa) plus inference (anumāna).
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Vaisheshika / Bhuta-tanmatra (Panchabhuta qualities and sensory properties)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stone slab shown with hidden moisture within; a person claps near a rock face producing an echo; a hand touches a rough stone surface labeled karkaśa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized rocky landscape with a cutaway showing water droplets inside stone, a figure producing echo waves against a cliff, tactile ripples on a rough boulder, traditional earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, symbolic stone with gold-outlined texture, inset motif of water within, echo shown as concentric gold rings, hand touching roughness, ornamental framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional triptych: (1) stone cross-section with water, (2) echo demonstration, (3) rough touch close-up; fine lines, clear labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic canyon scene with travelers hearing echo, detailed rock textures, subtle depiction of moisture seepage, refined borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाषाणादिष्वेव = पाषाण-आदि-षु + एव (सप्तमी + एव; षु + ए → ष्वे); प्रतिशब्दोद्भवं = प्रति-शब्द-उद्भवम् (समास).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 61.20 (element definitions); Agni Purana 61.22 (rūpa/rasa/gandha/śabda loci)
FAQs
It teaches a technical classification of matter: in dense substances like stone, water is said to be ‘earthy’ and the earth-element’s sensory qualities are described—echo-like sound and rough tactile sensation.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves systematic natural philosophy—mapping elements (bhūtas) to their observable properties (sound, touch), in a style aligned with Sāṅkhya/Vaiśeṣika categories.
By understanding creation through elemental qualities, the practitioner gains discriminative insight (viveka) into the material world, supporting detachment and clearer contemplation in dharma-oriented life.