Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 39
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
गवान्तु लवणन्देयं ब्राह्मणानाञ्च दक्षिणा नैमित्तिके माकरादौ यजेद्विष्णुं सह श्रिया
gavāntu lavaṇandeyaṃ brāhmaṇānāñca dakṣiṇā naimittike mākarādau yajedviṣṇuṃ saha śriyā
One should gift cows together with salt, and also provide the dakṣiṇā, the priests’ fee, to the Brāhmaṇas. In a naimittika rite performed for a specific occasion—such as at Makara (the Makara-saṅkrānti period) and the like—one should worship Viṣṇu together with Śrī (Lakṣmī).
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for dāna and dakṣiṇā in occasion-specific rites (naimittika), especially around Makara-saṅkrānti, with Viṣṇu-Śrī worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Go-dāna with lavaṇa and brāhmaṇa-dakṣiṇā; Makara-ādi naimittika Viṣṇu-Śrī pūjā","lookup_keywords":["go-dāna","lavaṇa-dāna","dakṣiṇā","naimittika","Makara"],"quick_summary":"Donate cows together with salt and pay priestly fees; for special occasions like Makara-saṅkrānti, worship Viṣṇu along with Lakṣmī to secure auspicious results."}
Concept: Dāna and dakṣiṇā complete ritual merit; naimittika rites are time-triggered duties rather than optional acts.
Application: Pair worship with tangible giving (go-dāna, lavaṇa) and fair compensation to officiants to ‘seal’ the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vrata-dana (Ritual observances, gifts, and expiatory rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A donor presents a cow with a vessel of salt to a brāhmaṇa priest; nearby, a shrine shows Viṣṇu with Lakṣmī being worshipped during Makara-saṅkrānti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: left panel go-dāna—cow with garland, salt pot; right panel Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa worship with lamps; subtle solar motif for saṅkrānti.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa central with gold halos; lower band depicts go-dāna and dakṣiṇā exchange, ornate vessels and textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional tableau—sequence panels: (1) prepare lavaṇa, (2) go-dāna, (3) dakṣiṇā, (4) Viṣṇu-Śrī pūjā at saṅkrānti; clean labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed gifting scene in a courtyard; priest receiving dakṣiṇā; background shows a small shrine with Viṣṇu-Lakṣmī and a sun-disc indicating saṅkrānti."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लवणन्देयं = लवणम् + देयम् (म् + द → न्द् in euphonic combination as transmitted); ब्राह्मणानाञ्च = ब्राह्मणानाम् + च (म् + च → ञ्च); माकरादौ = माकर-आदौ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dāna-khaṇḍa sections on go-dāna and dakṣiṇā; Agni Purana: Saṅkrānti-vrata and naimittika-kriyā listings
FAQs
It prescribes a naimittika (occasion-based) ritual protocol: donate cows with salt, give dakṣiṇā to Brāhmaṇas, and perform Viṣṇu worship together with Śrī (Lakṣmī), especially at Makara-related auspicious times.
It illustrates the text’s practical ritual manual aspect—linking calendrical occasions (Makara), regulated charity (dāna), priestly remuneration (dakṣiṇā), and deity-focused worship (Viṣṇu with Śrī)—showing how dharma, festival timing, and pūjā-vidhi are integrated.
The combination of prescribed gifts and Viṣṇu–Śrī worship is presented as a merit-generating, auspicious act that supports prosperity (Śrī) and purification through correct observance of occasion-based dharma.