Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 19
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
सकुलस्तस्य वै कर्ता विष्णुलोके महीयते षोडशागारकारी तु इति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः स्वल्पेनैवेति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः स एव पुण्यवान् पूज्य इह लोके परत्र च
sakulastasya vai kartā viṣṇuloke mahīyate ṣoḍaśāgārakārī tu iti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ svalpenaiveti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ sa eva puṇyavān pūjya iha loke paratra ca
Ang tagapagtayo (tagapagkaloob) ng gayong handog ay pinararangalan sa mundo ni Viṣṇu kasama ang buong angkan. Tunay, ang gumagawa ng labing-anim na bahay (ayon sa isang minarkahang manuskrito), o kahit sa munting handog lamang (ayon sa isa pang minarkahang manuskrito)—siya lamang ang may tunay na kabutihang-loob at karapat-dapat igalang, sa mundong ito at sa susunod.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Promotes housing charity and construction as a meritorious act benefiting one’s lineage; supports philanthropy such as building homes, shelters, rest-houses, or donating dwellings.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gṛha-dāna / Bahu-gṛha-karaṇa (merit of building or gifting houses) and lineage honor","lookup_keywords":["ṣoḍaśāgāra","gṛha-kārī","sakula","viṣṇuloka","sv-alpena"],"quick_summary":"The house-builder/donor is honored in Viṣṇu’s world along with his lineage; variant readings stress either ‘sixteen houses’ or ‘even a small gift,’ highlighting both scale and sincerity as merit-generators."}
Concept: Dāna that creates stable shelter (gṛha) is a high social dharma; puṇya is portrayed as trans-generational (sakula).
Application: Support housing for the needy, pilgrims, and disaster-affected; treat construction ethics and maintenance as part of religious duty.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (House-building and merit of construction/charity)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A patron oversees the building or gifting of multiple houses; families receive keys or enter new dwellings, while a symbolic vision shows the patron honored with ancestors/descendants in Viṣṇu’s realm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, row of newly built houses with tiled roofs, patron offering a house to a family, stylized lineage figures behind, Vishnu-world symbolism in upper register, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ceremonial house-gift scene with gold accents on doorframes, patron and recipients in festive attire, small Vaikuntha medallion above, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear architectural depiction of multiple houses (sixteen suggested by repetition), calm didactic composition, emphasis on donation gesture and documentation","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed neighborhood with multiple dwellings, patron distributing deeds, attendants recording, fine textiles and architecture, subtle celestial honor scene"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सकुलस्तस्य = सकुलः + तस्य; (पाठभेदसूचना ‘इति ग/ख...’ को श्लोकपाठ-टिप्पणी मानकर पदविश्लेषण में नहीं लिया गया।)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 38 (vāstu/house-building merit context)
FAQs
It states the phala (result) of gṛha-nirmāṇa/āgāra-dāna: constructing (or enabling the construction of) houses—especially in significant number—is treated as a high-merit act leading to honor in Viṣṇu’s realm.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s Vāstu and dāna-oriented instruction by linking practical civic welfare (housing/building) with religious merit (puṇya) and posthumous destiny (Viṣṇuloka).
The verse teaches that supporting habitation (building houses) generates enduring puṇya that elevates not only the donor/builder but also benefits the lineage, yielding honor in both worldly society and the afterlife.