Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 39
Chapter 38 — देवालयनिर्माणफलं
The Merit of Constructing a Temple
पूजयन्ति सदा विष्णुं ते वस्त्याज्याः सुदूरतः यस्तिष्ठन् प्रस्वपन् गच्छन्नुत्तिष्ठन् स्खलिते स्थिते
pūjayanti sadā viṣṇuṃ te vastyājyāḥ sudūrataḥ yastiṣṭhan prasvapan gacchannuttiṣṭhan skhalite sthite
যিসকলে সদায় বিষ্ণুৰ পূজা কৰে, তেওঁলোকৰ ক্ষেত্ৰত বাস্তু-ত্যাগ দূৰৰে পৰা বর্জনীয়। এনে ব্যক্তি থিয় হৈ, শুই, গৈ, উঠি, হোঁচট খাই বা স্থিৰ থাকিলেও—সৰ্বাৱস্থাত বিষ্ণুতেই ৰত থাকে।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Maintain continuous remembrance/worship of Viṣṇu across all daily postures and activities; treat devotion as an unbroken practice.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Nitya-smaraṇa: worship of Viṣṇu in all states (standing, sleeping, walking, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["nitya-smaraṇa","Vişṇu-pūjā","jāgrat-svapna","sarvāvasthā-bhakti","anusmṛti"],"quick_summary":"True worship is continuous—through waking, sleep, movement, and stillness. The verse teaches all-state mindfulness of Viṣṇu as a daily sādhana."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora/listing (avasthā-krama) to convey continuity
Concept: Sarvāvasthā-smaraṇa: unbroken God-remembrance as the essence of worship beyond formal ritual moments.
Application: Adopt a simple anchor (name/mantra) repeated during transitions—waking, walking, before sleep—to keep attention on Viṣṇu.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu-bhakti and nitya-smarana)
Primary Rasa: Bhakti
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee is shown in multiple vignettes—standing, walking, sleeping, rising—each with subtle signs of Viṣṇu-remembrance (japa-mālā, tilaka, inner vision).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential panels of one devotee in different postures, faint Viṣṇu aura above, rhythmic composition, warm temple colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, four-part composition with gold borders, devotee performing daily actions while a small Viṣṇu icon appears in each panel, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional storyboard layout, captions for each state (tiṣṭhan, prasvapan, gacchan, uttiṣṭhan), soft tones and precise gestures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, album-page style with multiple scenes of daily life, delicate interiors and gardens, devotee quietly repeating the divine name"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वस्त्याज्याः = vasti + ājyāḥ; सुदूरतः = su + dūrataḥ; यस्तिष्ठन् = yaḥ + tiṣṭhan; गच्छन्नुत्तिष्ठन् = gacchan + uttiṣṭhan (न् + उ → न्नु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 38 (pūjā-vidhi and nitya practice)
FAQs
It teaches nitya-smaraṇa (continuous remembrance) and nitya-pūjā of Viṣṇu—devotional discipline maintained through all bodily states (standing, sleeping, walking, rising, even stumbling).
Alongside its many technical sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also codifies practical religious conduct (ācāra): it integrates ritual devotion with everyday life, showing how dharma is lived continuously, not only during formal worship.
Unbroken devotion to Viṣṇu is presented as powerfully purifying; such a devotee’s presence is spiritually potent—so much so that the text warns the impure to keep distance, implying heightened merit and sanctity around the devotee.