Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 37
Ayuta–Lakṣa–Koṭi Fire-offerings (अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमाः) — Graha-yajña Vidhi
वसोर्धारां ततो दद्याच्छय्याभूषादिकं ददेत् तत्रापि दश चाष्टौ च लक्षहोमे तथर्त्विजः
vasordhārāṃ tato dadyācchayyābhūṣādikaṃ dadet tatrāpi daśa cāṣṭau ca lakṣahome tathartvijaḥ
ثم بعد ذلك ينبغي أن يُقدَّم قربان «فاسوردھارا»، وأن تُتَصَدَّقَ كذلك بسريرٍ وحُلِيٍّ وما شابه. وفي الطقس نفسه، من أجل «لاكشا-هوما» (مئة ألف إلقاءٍ في النار)، يُنَصُّ أيضًا على عشرةٍ وثمانيةٍ، أي ثمانيةَ عشرَ كاهنًا قائمين بالخدمة.
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidelines for expiatory/meritorious gifting within a homa-based rite: what to donate (vasordhārā, bed, ornaments) and how many priests to appoint for a lakṣa-homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vasordhārā-dāna and priest-count for Lakṣa-homa","lookup_keywords":["vasordhārā","lakṣa-homa","dakṣiṇā","śayyā-dāna","ṛtvij-saṅkhyā"],"quick_summary":"After the vasordhārā offering, donate bed and ornaments; for a 100,000-oblation homa, eighteen officiants are prescribed as part of the rite."}
Concept: Dāna and properly staffed yajña/homa as dharmic means to accrue puṇya and complete rites without deficiency.
Application: When undertaking large homas, budget for prescribed gifts and adequate officiants to ensure ritual completeness (saṃpatti).
Khanda Section: Dāna-vidhi (Ritual Gifts and Expiatory Offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual hall where the patron offers vasordhārā and presents a bed and ornaments to priests; a group of eighteen ṛtviks seated around a fire altar receiving dakṣiṇā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, yajña-maṇḍapa interior, blazing homa-kuṇḍa, patron in white dhoti offering vasordhārā, priests in rows receiving śayyā and ornaments, stylized flames and lotus borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on ornaments and ritual vessels, central homa fire, patron presenting bed and jewelry to priests, ornate arch frame, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional clarity: labeled grouping of eighteen priests around the kuṇḍa, patron’s dakṣiṇā items (bed, ornaments) arranged neatly, subdued pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly yajña scene, carpeted pavilion, patron distributing gifts, multiple priests with manuscripts and ladles, precise architectural perspective and textile patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वसोर्धाराम् = वसोः + धाराम्; दद्याच्छय्याभूषादिकम् = दद्यात् + शय्या + भूषा + आदिकम्; तत्रापि = तत्र + अपि; चाष्टौ = च + अष्टौ; तथर्त्विजः = तथा + ऋत्विजः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 167 (dāna-vidhi; homa-phala context)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific ritual sequence: performing/giving the Vasordhārā (a ghee-stream offering) and accompanying dānas (bed, ornaments, etc.), and it specifies the required officiants for a lakṣa-homa—eighteen ṛtvij priests.
It blends precise ritual engineering (type of homa, scale of oblations, priestly staffing) with dharma-oriented social practice (structured charitable gifts), showing how the text catalogs both liturgy and applied religious economics.
By coupling a major fire-rite (lakṣa-homa) with Vasordhārā and prescribed donations, the verse frames purification and merit (puṇya) as arising from both sacrificial action and generous, rule-based giving.