Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 30
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
विस्तारो योजनानान्तु कोटिरस्य शताहता अत्रैवान्तर्गता ज्ञेया योनयो ऽपि चतुर्दश
vistāro yojanānāntu koṭirasya śatāhatā atraivāntargatā jñeyā yonayo 'pi caturdaśa
ความกว้างของมันคือหนึ่งโกฏิ (สิบล้าน) โยชนะ แล้วคูณด้วยร้อย และภายในนี้เองพึงเข้าใจว่ามี “โยนิ” ทั้งสิบสี่จำพวกบรรจุอยู่
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana frame-dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Use puranic cosmographic measures (yojana extents) and the doctrine of fourteen yonis as a framework for teaching creation-order, ethical reflection on rebirth, and ritual storytelling.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Cosmic extent and the fourteen yonis contained within","lookup_keywords":["yojana extent","koṭi","śatāhata","caturdaśa yoni","loka-vistāra"],"quick_summary":"The text gives a vast cosmographic measure and states that the fourteen orders/wombs of birth are contained within that domain, linking spatial cosmology with the taxonomy of rebirth."}
Concept: Macrocosm–microcosm linkage: spatial magnitude of the world-system and the complete set of birth-wombs (yonis) within it.
Application: Pedagogical cosmology for dharma discourse: situate beings in a graded birth-system to encourage ethical conduct and aspiration for higher births/liberation.
Khanda Section: Bhugola & Loka-Vistara (Cosmography / Puranic Geography)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Cosmic region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmographic diagram showing an immense measured expanse annotated with yojana numbers, inside which a wheel or list of fourteen yonis is depicted as nested categories.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular cosmogram with concentric bands, bold inscriptions of large numbers, inner ring showing 14 yoni icons (gods, humans, animals, birds, reptiles, plants, spirits), earthy palette and temple-diagram symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted cosmographic wheel, central panel labeled ‘caturdaśa yoni’, ornate borders, miniature vignettes for each yoni class, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional cosmography: measured scale bars for yojanas, a neatly arranged list/diagram of 14 yonis within a bounded field, fine annotations and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, an astronomer-cosmographer presenting a large painted chart with yojana measures; within it, small naturalistic studies of beings representing the fourteen yonis, with elegant marginal calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: atraiva → atra eva; yonayo 'pi → yonayaḥ api.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84 (loka-vistāra and yoni-bheda sequence continuing in 84.31–84.32)
FAQs
It gives cosmographic technicalities: the scale of a cosmic region in yojanas (crore × hundred) and a taxonomy note that the fourteen yonis (orders of birth) are encompassed within that domain.
Alongside ritual and dharma topics, the Agni Purana preserves quantitative cosmology (traditional units like yojana, large-number arithmetic like koṭi × śata) and classificatory doctrine (the fourteen yonis), showing its wide, reference-like scope.
By situating all embodied births (the fourteen yonis) within a single cosmic order, it reinforces the Purāṇic view that saṃsāra is structured and knowable—encouraging detachment and right conduct aimed at liberation beyond repeated birth.