Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 5
Narmadā-ādi-māhātmya
The Greatness of the Narmadā and Other Tīrthas
समन्ताद्योजनशतं महापुण्यं भविष्यति अत्र दानन्तपो जप्यं श्राद्धं सर्वमथाक्षयं
samantādyojanaśataṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ bhaviṣyati atra dānantapo japyaṃ śrāddhaṃ sarvamathākṣayaṃ
Ringsum, im Umkreis von hundert Yojanas, wird großes religiöses Verdienst entstehen. Hier werden Gabe (dāna), Askese, das Rezitieren von japa und die śrāddha-Riten—alles wahrlich—an Frucht unerschöpflich.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard dialogue frame of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Pilgrimage planning and ritual prioritization: perform dāna, japa, tapas, and śrāddha at the specified tīrtha-kṣetra to obtain amplified and enduring merit.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Tīrtha-kṣetra where dāna–tapas–japa–śrāddha become akṣaya","lookup_keywords":["tirtha-mahatmya","akshaya-phala","dana","japa","shraddha"],"quick_summary":"Within a hundred-yojana sacred radius, standard dharmic acts (charity, austerity, mantra-recitation, and ancestral rites) yield inexhaustible results; the verse functions as a kṣetra-phala rule for pilgrims."}
Concept: Kṣetra (place) intensifies karma-phala; śraddhā and proper performance at a tīrtha yields enduring merit.
Application: Undertake śrāddha and dāna at recognized tīrthas; combine japa and tapas to stabilize intention and continuity of merit.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred ford (tīrtha) with pilgrims performing dāna, japa with mālā, ascetics in tapas, and a śrāddha offering to pitṛs; the landscape suggests a wide sanctified region.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, serene tīrtha riverbank, brahmins performing śrāddha with piṇḍa offerings, ascetics in meditation, donors giving cows and gold, flat warm palette, ornate borders, traditional attire","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central tīrtha shrine with gold-leaf haloed sanctity, devotees offering dāna, priest conducting śrāddha, rich textiles, architectural arch, embossed gold detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: labeled acts—dāna, japa, tapas, śrāddha—arranged around a river ghat, delicate lines, soft colors, emphasis on ritual implements (kuśa, pātra, mālā)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic river ghat scene with multiple vignettes of charity and rites, fine detailing of vessels and garments, distant landscape indicating ‘hundred yojanas’ sanctity, balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समन्ताद्योजनशतम् → समन्तात् + योजनशतम्; दानन्तपो → दानम् + तपः; सर्वमथाक्षयम् → सर्वम् + अथ + अक्षयम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 113 (Narmadā–Śrīparvata-māhātmya context); Agni Purana 114 (Gayā-māhātmya begins: another akṣaya-śrāddha locus)
FAQs
It teaches tīrtha-māhātmya praxis: at a designated sacred locus, core rites—dāna (charity), tapas (austerity), japa (mantra-recitation), and śrāddha (ancestral rite)—are said to yield akṣaya (inexhaustible) merit.
It exemplifies the Purana’s coverage of sacred geography and ritual efficacy—linking place (kṣetra/tīrtha), prescribed actions (dāna–tapas–japa–śrāddha), and outcomes (karma-phala)—a practical ritual-legal-spiritual mapping typical of the Agni Purana’s wide subject range.
It asserts that acts performed at this sacred site generate mahāpuṇya and become akṣaya—i.e., their karmic fruit does not diminish—especially emphasizing enduring benefit for both personal merit (japa/tapas/dāna) and ancestral uplift (śrāddha).