Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 42
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
सौभाग्यार्थी च सौभाग्यं मोक्षं मोक्षार्थिनो गताः लिखन्तो लेखयन्तश् च निष्पापश् च श्रियं गताः
saubhāgyārthī ca saubhāgyaṃ mokṣaṃ mokṣārthino gatāḥ likhanto lekhayantaś ca niṣpāpaś ca śriyaṃ gatāḥ
Wer Glück sucht, erlangt Glück; wer Befreiung sucht, erlangt Befreiung. Wer (diesen Text) schreibt und wer ihn schreiben lässt, wird sündlos und gelangt zu Wohlstand.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Use as pāṭha–lekhana māhātmya: encourage recitation, copying, and patronage of manuscript production for puṇya, pāpa-kṣaya, śrī, and mokṣa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāṭha–lekhana merit: prosperity, sinlessness, and mokṣa","lookup_keywords":["lekhana","pāṭha","niṣpāpa","śrī","mokṣa"],"quick_summary":"Recitation and especially writing/commissioning the text are presented as concrete religious acts that remove sin and bring prosperity; seekers of mokṣa attain mokṣa."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa and parallelism (arthin/phala pairs; lekhana/lekhayanta)
Concept: Śāstra-sevā as karma-yoga/bhakti: supporting transmission (writing, commissioning) becomes a purifier leading to śrī and mokṣa.
Application: Maintain a disciplined recitation routine; support preservation by copying, sponsoring editions, or teaching—treating it as dāna and sevā.
Khanda Section: Phala-śruti (Merit of Recitation/Copying) — Pāṭha–Lekhana Māhātmya
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe carefully writing the Agni Purāṇa on palm leaves while a patron provides materials; Lakṣmī-like prosperity symbolism and a radiant aura indicating pāpa-kṣaya and mokṣa-fruit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple scribe with stylus and palm leaves, patron offering ink and leaves, auspicious Śrī symbols (lotus, conch motifs), calm shanta mood, earthy pigments and bold contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated scribe with manuscript, patron with offerings, gold-leaf lotus and Śrī motifs, ornate frame, emphasis on prosperity and purity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed instructional depiction of manuscript writing tools, neat composition, soft colors, subtle halo indicating niṣpāpatva and mokṣa","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, kitabkhana (scriptorium) scene with calligrapher and patron, fine textiles, inkpots, manuscript folios, symbolic light suggesting spiritual merit"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional-instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लेखयन्तश् च = लेखयन्तः + च; निष्पापश् च = निष्पापः + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 382 (pāṭha–lekhana phala-śruti); Agni Purana dāna and vrata sections (general)
FAQs
It teaches the puṇya-principle of text-transmission: copying a sacred work (likhana) or sponsoring its copying (lekhāpana) is itself a meritorious practice that yields prosperity and supports the seeker’s aim, including mokṣa.
Beyond doctrines and rituals, it preserves a cultural-technical practice—manuscript production and patronage—showing how the Purāṇa systematizes even knowledge-preservation (scribal copying, commissioning) as part of dharma and religious life.
It asserts that writing or commissioning the writing of the sacred text removes pāpa (sin/negative karma) and grants śrī (prosperity), while aligning outcomes with intention: the mokṣa-seeker attains mokṣa; the prosperity-seeker attains prosperity.