Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 25
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
औद्गात्रं सामभिओश् चक्रे ब्रह्मत्वञ्चाप्यथर्वभिः प्रथमं व्यासशिष्यस्तु पैलो ह्य् ऋग्वेदपारगः
audgātraṃ sāmabhioś cakre brahmatvañcāpyatharvabhiḥ prathamaṃ vyāsaśiṣyastu pailo hy ṛgvedapāragaḥ
وجعل وظيفة الكاهن أُدغاتَر (Udgatṛ) لأهل السامافيدا، ووظيفة كاهن البرهمن (Brahman) لأهل الأتهرفافيدا. وأما أول تلامذة فياسا فكان بايلا، وهو المتبحّر في الرِغفيدا.
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic account of Veda-division to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Completes the mapping of Vedas to the four principal śrauta priestly functions and introduces Vyāsa’s disciple-lineage for Ṛgveda transmission.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Udgatṛ by Sāman; Brahman by Atharvan; Paila as Ṛgveda disciple","lookup_keywords":["Udgatṛ","Sāmaveda","Brahman priest","Atharvaveda","Paila"],"quick_summary":"Assigns the Udgatṛ’s role to Sāmaveda specialists and the Brahman-priest’s supervisory role to Atharvaveda specialists. Notes Paila as the foremost disciple of Vyāsa and a master of the Ṛgveda."}
Concept: Ritual completeness requires coordinated specialization: chant (sāman), action (yajus), recitation (ṛk), and oversight (brahman).
Application: In organizing yajñas or curricula, ensure the fourfold competency structure; in textual history, trace Ṛgveda śākhā through Paila-line.
Khanda Section: Veda-Vyasa Parampara (Vedic recension and transmission; Purana-encyclopedic tradition)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yajña with Udgatṛ singing from Sāmaveda notation, Brahman priest seated in supervisory posture, and Vyāsa instructing Paila with Ṛgveda manuscripts nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Udgatṛ with singing gesture and palm-leaf, Brahman priest calm and watchful, Vyāsa teaching Paila, rhythmic visual motifs suggesting chant, bold outlines and warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed manuscripts and ornaments, Udgatṛ mid-chant, Brahman priest with rosary and calm gaze, Vyāsa and Paila in a teaching vignette, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, precise depiction of roles: Udgatṛ with vīṇā/tāla markers (symbolic), Brahman priest with authoritative seat, Vyāsa handing a manuscript to Paila, soft shading and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, music-and-ritual scene: singer-priest with attendants, a senior supervisor-priest, and a scholarly corner where Vyāsa tutors Paila, intricate textiles and pavilion architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सामभिः + च → सामभिश्च; ब्रह्मत्वम् + च + अपि → ब्रह्मत्वञ्चापि; हि + ऋग्वेदपारगः → ह्य् ऋग्वेदपारगः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: continuation of Veda-vibhāga and disciple lists (same khanda)
FAQs
It maps Vedic ritual priestly offices to Vedic specializations: Udgatṛ duties to Sāmaveda chanters and the Brahman (supervisory priest) role to Atharvaveda specialists, and identifies Paila as the Ṛgveda expert in Vyāsa’s lineage.
By documenting the organization of Vedic learning—ritual roles, textual specialization, and teacher–disciple transmission—this verse preserves institutional details of śrauta practice alongside Purāṇic narrative.
It highlights dharma through proper ritual competency and lineage-based transmission: assigning roles to qualified specialists safeguards yajña correctness, which is traditionally held to sustain merit (puṇya) and cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).