Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
तुलापुरुषमुख्यानि महादानानि षोडश अन्नदानानि मुख्यानि सर्वाण्यघहराणि हि
tulāpuruṣamukhyāni mahādānāni ṣoḍaśa annadānāni mukhyāni sarvāṇyaghaharāṇi hi
تُقرَّر ستةَ عشرَةَ من «العطايا العظمى» (mahādāna)، وأشرفُها «تولابوروشا» (Tulāpuruṣa). غير أنّه بين جميع العطايا يبقى إطعامُ الطعام هو الأسمى، لأنّ جميعها حقًّا مُزيلٌ للخطايا.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for merit-making and social welfare: understand the hierarchy of dānas (including the sixteen mahādānas like Tulāpuruṣa) while prioritizing anna-dāna as most universally beneficial.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṣoḍaśa Mahādāna and the supremacy of Anna-dāna","lookup_keywords":["ṣoḍaśa mahādāna","Tulāpuruṣa","anna-dāna","dāna-dharma","aghaharaṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates the ‘sixteen great gifts’ with Tulāpuruṣa foremost, yet teaches that food-giving is the highest among gifts because it sustains life and is broadly purificatory."}
Concept: Dāna is both expiatory and socially sustaining; among all forms, anna-dāna is supreme because it directly supports prāṇa and enables all dharmic pursuits.
Application: Prioritize regular food distribution (feeding guests, poor, students, pilgrims) even if large ceremonial mahādānas are not feasible; reserve grand gifts like Tulāpuruṣa for exceptional occasions and capacity.
Khanda Section: Dāna-dharma (Charity, Mahādāna and Annavidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand Tulāpuruṣa ceremony: a donor seated on one side of a balance scale weighed against gold; alongside, a more universal scene of anna-dāna—serving cooked food to lines of recipients—emphasizing the verse’s priority.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple courtyard: large balance scale with donor and gold, priests officiating; adjacent feeding hall with banana-leaf meals served, warm ochres and reds, rhythmic composition showing ‘mahādāna’ and ‘anna-dāna’.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ceremonial Tulāpuruṣa with ornate scale and gold-leaf highlights, donor richly dressed, priests with vessels; foreground anna-dāna with gleaming serving pots, embossed gold accents, vibrant palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, documentary clarity: labeled depiction of Tulāpuruṣa scale mechanics and the anna-dāna serving process, fine linework, soft colors, emphasis on objects (tulā, suvarṇa, pātra, anna).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, royal charity scene: a ruler weighed against gold on a grand scale, courtiers present; nearby a langar-like distribution of food, intricate architectural backdrop, detailed costumes and vessels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamas","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तुलापुरुषमुख्यानि = तुला + पुरुष + मुख्यानि; महादानानि = महा + दानानि; सर्वाण्यघहराणि = सर्वाणि + अघहराणि (यण्-सन्धि).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa dāna-dharma and mahādāna descriptions (where detailed); Agni Purāṇa annadāna/atithi-dharma passages
FAQs
It classifies dāna-practice by citing the ‘sixteen mahādānas’ (with Tulāpuruṣa as a leading example) and states a practical hierarchy: annadāna (food donation) is considered the most important form of giving.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s dharma-encyclopedia style by codifying ritual categories (mahādāna lists) alongside ethical prioritization (the primacy of annadāna), integrating rite, social duty, and karmic doctrine in a compact rule-like verse.
The verse teaches that charitable giving—especially food charity—functions as aghahara (sin-removing), generating puṇya and supporting purification through compassionate sustenance of others.