Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 5
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
ऋगिन्द्रशोभनं प्रास्यां युजुर्यमसुभद्रकम् सामापश् च सुधन्वाख्यं सोमाथर्वसुहोत्रकम्
ṛgindraśobhanaṃ prāsyāṃ yujuryamasubhadrakam sāmāpaś ca sudhanvākhyaṃ somātharvasuhotrakam
في الجهة الشرقية (prācī)، يُعرَف رِغ-فيدا باسم «إندراشوبَهَنا» (Indraśobhana)، ويُعرَف يَجُر-فيدا باسم «يَمَسُو-بَهَدْرَكَ» (Yamasu-bhadraka)، وسَامَا-فيدا باسم «سُودَهَنْفَن» (Sudhanvan)، وأَثَرفا-فيدا (مع تقليد السُّوما) باسم «سُوهُوترَكَ» (Suhotraka).
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic encyclopedic classifications to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional naming/identification of Vedas for ritual mapping: assign specific epithets of Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva (with Soma tradition) to the eastern quarter scheme for invocation and placement in pūjā/maṇḍala contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dik-nāma of the Vedas: Indraśobhana, Yamasu-bhadraka, Sudhanvan, Suhotraka","lookup_keywords":["veda nāma","indraśobhana","sudhanvan","suhotraka","dik-vinyāsa"],"quick_summary":"The verse provides a quarter-based nomenclature for the Vedas—useful for ritual orientation, maṇḍala mapping, and invoking Vedic powers as directional presences."}
Concept: Nirukti-like naming and classification: sacred knowledge organized through names, directions, and functional placement.
Application: Use these epithets as labels in maṇḍalas, altar diagrams, or recitation sequences when a rite requires Veda-dik-nyāsa.
Khanda Section: Veda-nama-nirukti / Vedic classification (Encyclopedic listing of sacred branches)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram showing the four directions with the Vedas written as personified scrolls or sound-streams; the east labeled Ṛg as Indraśobhana, and other quarters labeled with Yajur, Sāma, Atharva/Soma epithets.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: circular mandala with four quarters, stylized palm-leaf manuscripts in each direction, bold labels Indraśobhana etc., minimal figures, emphasis on sacred geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: four Vedas as ornate manuscripts with gold halos placed around a central lotus, directional markers, gold foil borders, rich jewel palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional mandala with compass-like directions, calligraphic labels for each Veda-name, soft shading, precise symmetry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholar-priest presenting a directional chart with four labeled manuscripts, fine calligraphy, patterned margins, courtly setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऋगिन्द्रशोभनं = ऋक् + इन्द्र + शोभनम्; युजुर्यमसुभद्रकम् = यजुः + यम + सुभद्रकम्; सामापश् = साम + आपः; सुधन्वाख्यं = सुधन्व + आख्यम्; सोमाथर्वसुहोत्रकम् = सोम + अथर्व + सुहोत्रकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Veda-nāma/nirukti and dik-nyāsa related lists in the same chapter cluster; mantra-nyāsa sections where such names function as placements.
FAQs
It transmits a classificatory vidyā: the traditional epithets (nāma/ākhyā) of the four Vedas as associated with the eastern direction, useful for cataloging śākhās and ritual lineages.
Rather than narrating mythology alone, it records structured reference-data—names and identifiers of Vedic traditions—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium-style coverage of śāstra, ritual taxonomy, and sacred learning.
Remembering and correctly identifying Vedic traditions is treated as a form of dharma-protection: it supports accurate ritual performance and preserves sacred transmission, which is traditionally linked with purification (śuddhi) and merit (puṇya).