Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 3
अध्याय ११७ — श्राद्धकल्पः
The Procedure for Śrāddha
यतीन् गृहस्थसाधून् वा स्नातकाञ्छ्रोत्रियान् द्विजान् अनवद्यान् कर्मनिष्ठान् शिष्टानाचारसंयुतान्
yatīn gṛhasthasādhūn vā snātakāñchrotriyān dvijān anavadyān karmaniṣṭhān śiṣṭānācārasaṃyutān
Man soll Yatis (Asketen) oder tugendhafte Hausväter ehren; ebenso Snātakas, Śrotriyas — vedakundige Gelehrte — und untadelige Dvijas: standhaft in den vorgeschriebenen Pflichten, kultiviert und mit rechter Lebensführung versehen.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in dharma and proper conduct)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Defines eligible and honorable recipients/participants for śrāddha hospitality—ascetics, virtuous householders, snātakas, śrotriyas—emphasizing character and conduct as criteria.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pātra-lakṣaṇa: worthy invitees for Śrāddha","lookup_keywords":["pātra lakṣaṇa","yati","snātaka","śrotriya","ācāra"],"quick_summary":"Select invitees based on learning, purity, and conduct: ascetics or virtuous householders, snātakas, śrotriyas, and blameless dvijas devoted to duty and good ācāra."}
Concept: Dāna and śrāddha bear fruit according to pātra (recipient fitness); ācāra and karma-niṣṭhā are decisive.
Application: When inviting for śrāddha, prioritize integrity, Vedic competence, and disciplined conduct over mere social status.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Achara (conduct, hospitality, and ethics of honoring the worthy)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Dharma-vīra (ethical firmness)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder respectfully welcomes a line of worthy invitees—an ascetic, a snātaka, and a śrotriya—offering seats and water, emphasizing decorum and honor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dignified procession of yati with staff, snātaka with sacred thread and water-pot, śrotriya with palm-leaf Veda; host offering arghya, stylized architecture and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: host honoring three archetypal invitees with gold-highlighted halos and ornate seating; rich textiles, ritual vessels with gold work, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional grouping labeled by role (yati, snātaka, śrotriya), host offering pādya/arghya; soft colors, precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined hospitality scene in a courtyard with carpets and vessels; distinct costumes for ascetic and learned brāhmaṇas; detailed gestures of welcome."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्नातकाञ्छ्रोत्रियान् → स्नातकान् + श्रोत्रियान् (न् + श् → ञ्छ्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 117 (pātra-doṣa and pātra-guṇa passages around invitation/eligibility)
FAQs
It identifies the categories of persons considered worthy of satkāra (formal honoring)—yatis, virtuous householders, snātakas, and śrotriyas—emphasizing ritual-ethical criteria such as blamelessness and steadiness in prescribed duties.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana codifies social-religious practice: who should be respected and supported, and what qualifications (ācāra, karma-niṣṭhā, śiṣṭatā) define an authoritative, dharmic community.
Honoring the irreproachable and duty-bound is presented as dharmic alignment: it supports Vedic learning and disciplined living, generating merit (puṇya) through reverence toward those established in right conduct.