Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 12

वागीश्वरीपूजा

The Worship of Vāgīśvarī

Devanagari script

दलसन्धिर्गजकुम्भ निभान्तर्यद्दलाग्रकम् पञ्चमे व्योमरूपन्तु संसक्तं कमलं स्मृतं

Transliteration

dalasandhirgajakumbha nibhāntaryaddalāgrakam pañcame vyomarūpantu saṃsaktaṃ kamalaṃ smṛtaṃ

Translation

若莲华之瓣缝（dala-sandhi）如象之颞部隆起（gaja-kumbha），且瓣尖内收；在第五类中称为“虚空之形”（vyoma-rūpa），此莲名为“紧密相连”（saṃsakta）。

Word by Word

• dala-sandhiḥ: the junction of petals
• dala-sandhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dala (प्रातिपदिक) + sandhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: "petal-joint"

• gaja-kumbha: elephant’s temple (forehead)
• gaja-kumbha: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Accusative context; here used in comparison base; "elephant-temple/forehead"

• nibha: resembling/like
• nibha: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (as second member in comparison) "like/resembling"; here governing gajakumbha-nibha = resembling elephant-temple

• antaryat: should be set/held within
• antaryat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antar (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + √yam (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (aorist/लुङ्) or injunctive-like form; 3rd person singular (प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन); sense: "it should be restrained/placed within" (contextual imperative)

• dala-agrakam: the petal-tip (small end)
• dala-agrakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dala (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक) + -ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन); "tip of the petal" (diminutive/derivative)

• pañcame: in the fifth (stage)
• pañcame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन); "in the fifth (stage)"

• vyoma-rūpam: having the form of the sky
• vyoma-rūpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyoma (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा) or Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन); "sky-shaped"

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable/अव्यय), particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक)

• saṃsaktam: attached/connected
• saṃsaktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsakta (कृदन्त; √sañj/√saj सज् with sam-)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Napuṃsakaliṅga (neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन); agrees with kamalam

• kamalam: lotus
• kamalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

• smṛtam: is said/considered
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛta (कृदन्त; √smṛ स्मृ)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá) used predicatively; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; "is said/considered"

Speaker

Lord Agni (in dialogue with Vasiṣṭha, the default narrative frame of the Agni Purāṇa)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Identifying and drafting a specific lotus typology (saṃsakta/vyoma-rūpa) used in temple diagrams, pedestals, ceilings, and yantra-lotus variants.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Saṃsakta (compact) lotus of Vyoma-rūpa type","lookup_keywords":["saṃsakta kamala","vyoma-rūpa","dala-sandhi","gaja-kumbha","petal tips inward"],"quick_summary":"Defines a compact lotus type: petal-junctions resemble elephant temples and petal tips turn inward; the fifth variety is termed ‘sky-formed’ (vyoma-rūpa) and classified as saṃsakta."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Upamā

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred form is standardized through named types (bheda) and recognizable markers (upamā-based lakṣaṇa).

Application: Choose the correct lotus type for a given ritual/architectural context and reproduce its defining features consistently.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Yantra-Śilpa (Temple iconometry and lotus/mandala typology)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A compact lotus diagram with thick, bulging petal junctions like elephant temples and petal tips curling inward; labeled as vyoma-rūpa/saṃsakta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold outlines of a compact lotus motif on a temple ceiling panel, petal junctions rounded like gaja-kumbha, tips drawn inward, warm ochres and reds, sacred geometry feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate lotus medallion with gold relief at petal junctions, inward-curving tips, ‘vyoma-rūpa’ suggested by a sky-blue field behind the lotus, rich decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clean instructional plate showing saṃsakta lotus: stepwise drawing of junction bulges and inward tips, fine brushwork, muted pastels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan presenting a folio with the saṃsakta lotus, precise curves and inward tips, courtly workshop setting, delicate shading and patterned margins."}

Audio Atmosphere

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: dalasandhir = dala-sandhiḥ; nibhāntaryat = nibha + antaryat (sandhi); vyomarūpantu = vyoma-rūpam + tu.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 319 lotus/maṇḍala typology sequence (types 1–5)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Kamala (Padma/Lotus)
• Vyoma (Sky/Space)

FAQs

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

It defines a specific padma/lotus (mandala) type used in Vāstu-Śāstra and yantra/temple design—identified by elephant-temple-like petal junctions and inward-turned petal tips, termed vyoma-rūpa and saṃsakta.

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

Beyond mythology, it preserves technical taxonomy for architectural/diagrammatic motifs (padma-bheda), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied arts like Vāstu, śilpa, and ritual geometry.

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

Correctly specifying sacred geometric forms (padma/mandala) supports accurate altar/temple and ritual layouts, which traditional texts treat as essential for purity, efficacy of worship, and auspicious outcomes.