Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 78
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
भक्ष्यताम्वूलपुष्पाद्यं मन्त्रितन्तु प्रयच्छति यस्य धर्मज्ञ वशगः सोम्य शीघ्रं भविष्यति
bhakṣyatāmvūlapuṣpādyaṃ mantritantu prayacchati yasya dharmajña vaśagaḥ somya śīghraṃ bhaviṣyati
ولكن إن قُدِّمت للمقصود أطعمةٌ تؤكل—كالجذور والزهور ونحوها—بعد أن تُقدَّس بالمانترا، فحينئذٍ، أيها اللطيف، أيها العارف بالدارما، سيقع ذلك الشخص سريعًا تحت تأثير المُعطي.
Lord Agni (in instruction to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Influence operation through consecrated gifts (edibles like roots/flowers): a counsel on soft power, persuasion, and gaining compliance without force.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mantra-consecrated gifts for gaining influence (Vaśyatā by dāna)","lookup_keywords":["mantrita-bhakṣya","dāna","vaśya","mūla-puṣpa","nīti"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate edible offerings with mantras and give them to the target; the person is said to come quickly under the giver’s influence."}
Concept: Upāya (means) in governance/social dealings: influence can be achieved through gifts combined with ritual intention (mantra-saṃskāra).
Application: Prefer conciliatory methods (dāna, saṃskāra) to secure cooperation; ethically, apply within dharma (as the verse addresses a dharma-knower).
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, counsel, and methods of influence)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A counselor or ritualist consecrates edible items (roots, flowers, etc.) with mantra and offers them to a person to win goodwill and compliance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, calm court or household setting, mantrin blessing a tray of roots and flowers, recipient accepting respectfully, warm lamp-lit palette, symbolic lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, offering tray with roots/flowers rendered richly, gold foil on vessels, giver and recipient in dignified poses, auspicious borders and temple-lamp elements.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: mantra-recitation over offerings, then handover; delicate lines, muted colors, emphasis on objects and sequence of action.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined gift-giving scene in a garden pavilion, detailed flora, tray of offerings, subtle depiction of whispered mantra, elegant garments and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भक्ष्यताम्वूलपुष्पाद्यं = भक्ष्यताम् + मूलपुष्पाद्यम्; मन्त्रितन्तु = मन्त्रितम् + तु
Related Themes: Agni Purana 259 (nīti-linked mantra prayogas)
FAQs
It teaches a mantra-prayoga: consecrate edible offerings (roots, flowers, etc.) with mantras and give them, as a practical means of quickly winning another person’s compliance or goodwill.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied Niti/Rajadharma material—methods of persuasion, counsel, and pragmatic techniques—showing its wide coverage of governance and operational know-how.
The act combines dāna (giving) with mantra-siddhi (consecration). Framed within dharma, it implies that disciplined, ritually ordered action can produce swift worldly outcomes, though its ethical use is bounded by dharmic intent.