Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 370: नरकनिरूपणम्
Naraka-nirūpaṇa) — Description of Hell (with the physiology of dying and the subtle transition
सदीर्घा वर्तुला सप्तभूमा चैव सुभूमिका दीप्तमायाष्टाविंशतयः कोटयः पापिदुःखदाः
sadīrghā vartulā saptabhūmā caiva subhūmikā dīptamāyāṣṭāviṃśatayaḥ koṭayaḥ pāpiduḥkhadāḥ
萨迪尔迦、瓦尔图拉、萨普塔布胡玛、苏布胡弥迦与迪普塔玛雅——这些地狱境界合计二十八俱胝，令罪人受诸苦恼。
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Moral-cosmographic instruction: understanding Naraka-loka classifications and the scale of karmic consequence to guide ethical restraint and expiatory practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Naraka-Loka Enumeration: Sadīrghā to Dīptamāyā; Total Count","lookup_keywords":["Naraka","Sadīrghā","Vartulā","Dīptamāyā","aṣṭāviṃśati-koṭi"],"quick_summary":"Names several hell-realms and states their vast total (28 crores), emphasizing that sinful action yields structured and extensive suffering realms."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā (enumerative style)
Concept: Karma produces determinate experiential worlds; sin (pāpa) leads to graded suffering realms.
Application: Cultivate restraint (yama/niyama), perform prāyaścitta and dāna, and adopt sattvic conduct to avoid pāpa-gati.
Khanda Section: Cosmography & Naraka-Loka (Descriptions of worlds/hells and karmic retribution)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmographic underworld map: multiple hell-realms labeled Sadīrghā, Vartulā, Saptabhūmā, Subhūmikā, Dīptamāyā, with countless compartments symbolizing ‘28 crores’, flames and shadowed pits conveying suffering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, underworld cosmography with layered pits and fiery chambers, labels in Devanagari for Sadīrghā, Vartulā, Saptabhūmā, Subhūmikā, Dīptamāyā, dramatic reds and blacks, stylized demons as wardens, didactic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, framed cosmographic panel of Naraka-loka with gold borders, segmented compartments, glowing fire motifs, inscriptions of realm names, ornate but ominous aesthetic","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic cosmography like a teaching chart, neat compartments and labels, restrained flames, emphasis on count ‘aṣṭāviṃśati-koṭi’, scholarly tone","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, illustrated manuscript map of the underworld with labeled chambers, fine brushwork flames, sinners in small vignettes, marginal notes explaining the total number"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: चैव = च + एव; दीप्तमायाष्टाविंशतयः interpreted as दीप्तमाया + अष्टाविंशतयः; पापिदुःखदाः segmented as पापि-दुःख-दाः (compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 370 (Naraka-loka and naraka-vibhāga passages)
FAQs
It imparts cosmographic-ethical knowledge: specific Naraka names and the doctrinal point that these realms function as karmic consequence-zones for pāpa (sin).
By cataloging named hell-realms and quantifying them (in koṭis), the text preserves a systematic, list-based cosmology alongside moral causality—typical of the Agni Purana’s compendium style.
It reinforces that sinful actions ripen into specific forms of suffering, encouraging dharmic conduct and purification to avoid naraka-bound outcomes.