Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 19
Devapūjā, Vaiśvadeva Offering, and Bali (देवपूजावैश्वदेवबलिः)
यमाय तत्पुरुषेभ्यो दद्याद्दक्षिणतस् तथा वरुणाय तत्पुरुषेभ्यो दद्यात्पश्चिमतस् तथा
yamāya tatpuruṣebhyo dadyāddakṣiṇatas tathā varuṇāya tatpuruṣebhyo dadyātpaścimatas tathā
একেদৰে দক্ষিণ দিশত যম আৰু তেওঁৰ অনুচৰসকলক, তথা পশ্চিম দিশত বৰুণ আৰু তেওঁৰ অনুচৰসকলক বলি দিয়া উচিত।
Lord Agni (instructional narration in Agni Purana) to the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Directional (dik) placement of offerings in śrāddha/pitṛ-karman: south for Yama and attendants, west for Varuṇa and attendants—integrating dikpāla mapping into funerary appeasement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dik-oriented offerings: South to Yama, West to Varuṇa (with attendants)","lookup_keywords":["yama-dakṣiṇa","varuṇa-paścima","dikpāla-śrāddha","pitṛ-karman","puruṣa-attendants"],"quick_summary":"In śrāddha-related offerings, place bali on the southern side for Yama and his beings, and on the western side for Varuṇa and his beings—following directional guardianship logic."}
Concept: Ritual cosmography: aligning offerings with the moral-cosmic administration of death (Yama) and order/waters (Varuṇa).
Application: During śrāddha adjunct offerings, maintain correct directional placement to avoid ritual fault (doṣa) and to ensure appeasement.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-karman; funerary and ancestral offering rites with dik-pāla orientation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Directional (dik) context
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a ritual ground, offerings are placed to the south for Yama and his attendants, and to the west for Varuṇa and his attendants, with the performer oriented carefully by direction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: a square ritual space with compass directions; to the south, Yama dark-hued with staff and attendants; to the west, Varuṇa with water motifs and attendants; the performer placing bali with measured gestures; solemn palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Yama on the southern panel with gold halo, Varuṇa on the western panel with aquatic emblems; offerings arranged on plates; directional markers; rich ornamentation and devotional gravity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional compass diagram around a sthandila; labeled ‘dakṣiṇa—Yama’ and ‘paścima—Varuṇa’; small attendant figures; clear stepwise depiction of placement.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard ritual with a visible west wall and south side; Yama and Varuṇa depicted in cloud bands aligned to directions; attendants in smaller scale; meticulous geometry and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दद्याद्दक्षिणतस् = दद्यात् दक्षिणतः; दद्यात्पश्चिमतस् = दद्यात् पश्चिमतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 263.20 (north to Soma; middle to Brahmā); Agni Purana 263.17–263.21 (full directional/locus sequence)
FAQs
It gives dik-nirdeśa (directional placement) for śrāddha-style offerings: to Yama on the south side and to Varuṇa on the west side, including offerings to their associated attendants.
It preserves precise procedural ritual details—how to spatially arrange offerings by deity and direction—showing the Agni Purana’s compendium-like coverage of practical dharma, rites, and liturgical method.
Correctly directed offerings are taught as a means to ensure ritual efficacy, satisfaction of the invoked deities and their retinues, and the accrual of dharmic merit through proper performance of ancestral and propitiatory rites.