Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 10
Granthaprasthāvanā (Preface): Sāra of Knowledge, Twofold Brahman, and the Purpose of Avatāras
अग्निनोक्तं पुराणम् यद् आग्नेयं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं दिव्यं पठतां शृण्वतां नृणाम्
agninoktaṃ purāṇam yad āgneyaṃ brahmasammitam bhuktimuktipradaṃ divyaṃ paṭhatāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ nṛṇām
Jenes von Agni verkündete Purāṇa—Āgneya genannt—ist dem Brahman (dem Veda) an Autorität gleich und göttlich; es verleiht den Menschen, die es rezitieren und die es hören, sowohl weltlichen Genuss als auch Befreiung.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Encourages communal listening/recitation (śravaṇa–pāṭha) by promising both bhukti (worldly welfare) and mukti (liberation), a practical incentive structure for Purāṇic dissemination.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Bhukti–Mukti-phala of Āgneya Purāṇa śravaṇa/pāṭha","lookup_keywords":["Agni-ukta","Āgneya","bhukti","mukti","śravaṇa-pāṭha"],"quick_summary":"Because it is taught by Agni and ‘brahma-sammita’ (Veda-equivalent in authority), reciting or hearing the Āgneya Purāṇa is presented as a dual-benefit practice: prosperity here and liberation ultimately."}
Alamkara Type: Dvandva (bhukti-mukti) as arthālaṅkāra
Concept: Śravaṇa and pāṭha as accessible sādhana integrating pravṛtti (bhukti) and nivṛtti (mukti).
Application: Organize regular readings (parāyaṇa), sponsor public recitations, and practice attentive listening as a disciplined spiritual routine.
Khanda Section: Purana-mahatmya (Agni Purana Introduction and Praise)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as the divine teacher reveals the Purāṇa; humans gather to recite and listen, receiving symbols of prosperity and liberation (lotus, lamp, open manuscript).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni deity blessing a seated assembly of listeners, open manuscript on a stand, offerings and lamps, two symbolic paths shown subtly—prosperity (grain, coins) and liberation (lotus, upward light), vibrant flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Agni with gold leaf flames, devotees reciting from a manuscript, ornate gold halos, icons of bhukti (kalasha, grains) and mukti (lotus, radiant aura) in the composition, rich temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional scene of a parāyaṇa: reader with manuscript, listeners seated in rows, Agni depicted above as divine source, soft palette, fine linework, emphasis on practice.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a public recitation gathering in a pavilion, a small divine Agni apparition above, detailed carpets and manuscripts, subtle allegorical motifs for bhukti and mukti, refined naturalism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अग्निनोक्तम् = अग्निना + उक्तम् (vowel sandhi with instrumental -ā + u- → o); यद् आग्नेयम् = यत् + आग्नेयम् (final -t before vowel written as -d in padapāṭha/orthography).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 1.9 (supremacy claim)
FAQs
It teaches the soteriological practice of Purāṇa-śravaṇa and Purāṇa-pāṭha—listening to and reciting the Āgneya Purāṇa—as a means to gain both practical worldly benefit (bhukti) and ultimate freedom (mukti).
By asserting Veda-like authority and promising comprehensive results (bhukti and mukti), the verse frames the Agni Purāṇa as a complete knowledge-source—legitimizing its wide coverage of ritual, dharma, polity, arts, and other disciplines as spiritually efficacious.
It declares that engaging with the text through hearing and recitation generates merit that supports worldly welfare while also purifying and orienting the practitioner toward liberation.