Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
Chapter 153 — Brahmacarya-āśrama-dharma
The Dharma of the Student Stage
वेदस्वीकरणं कृत्वा स्रायाद्वै दत्तदक्षिणः
vedasvīkaraṇaṃ kṛtvā srāyādvai dattadakṣiṇaḥ
বেদ-স্বীকার (আনুষ্ঠানিক গ্রহণ) সম্পন্ন করে এবং নির্ধারিত দক্ষিণা প্রদান করে, তারপর সমাপন-রূপে স্নান করবে।
Lord Agni (in dialogue to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Completion protocol for Veda-study undertaking: formal acceptance of Veda discipline, payment of dakṣiṇā to the teacher, and concluding bath as a rite-marker.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Veda Acceptance, Dakṣiṇā, and Concluding Bath (Samāvartana-like Marker)","lookup_keywords":["veda-svīkaraṇa","dakṣiṇā","snāna","guru-ṛṇa","saṃskāra"],"quick_summary":"After formally undertaking Vedic study and giving the teacher’s fee, the student performs a bath to mark completion/transition—linking learning, gratitude, and ritual closure."}
Concept: Knowledge is sanctified by saṃskāra: commitment (svīkaraṇa), reciprocity (dakṣiṇā), and purification/closure (snāna).
Application: When completing a course of study or vow, perform a clear closing act: offer gratitude/fee/service to the teacher and mark transition with a purificatory bath or simple rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic rites, dāna–dakṣiṇā, and ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A student formally accepts Vedic discipline before the guru, offers dakṣiṇā, and then proceeds to bathe as a concluding purification rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, āśrama scene with guru receiving dakṣiṇā (cloth/cow/coins) from student, palm-leaf Veda bundle present, then student at a river performing snāna, serene dawn light","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru and student with gold-highlighted Veda manuscript bundle, dakṣiṇā offering emphasized with gold, secondary panel of ritual bath with shimmering gold water accents, auspicious border motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional composition: svīkaraṇa gesture before guru, dakṣiṇā handover, then snāna at water body; ritual items labeled neatly","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet ascetic classroom, detailed textiles and manuscripts, student presenting dakṣiṇā, followed by a riverbank bathing scene with delicate landscape and calligraphy cartouche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vedasvīkaraṇaṃ → veda-svīkaraṇam; srāyādvai → srāyāt + vai; dattadakṣiṇaḥ → datta-dakṣiṇaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 153 (Veda-study and nitya-karma sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes the completion-sequence for Vedic undertaking: after formally accepting Vedic study/observance and paying dakṣiṇā, one performs the concluding bath (snāna) as ritual closure and purification.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical dharma-procedure—how rites are concluded, how teachers/officiants are compensated (dakṣiṇā), and how purification is ritually marked—showing its coverage of social-religious protocol.
Giving dakṣiṇā fulfills obligation and gratitude to the guru/ṛtvik, while the concluding bath signifies purification and proper completion (saṃskāra-samāpti), supporting merit (puṇya) and avoiding ritual deficiency (doṣa).