Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 9
Ācāra
Right Conduct
तत्राघमर्षणं सूक्तं द्रुपदां वा तथा जपेत् युञ्जते मन इत्य् एवं सूक्तं सूक्तं वाप्यथ पौरुषं
tatrāghamarṣaṇaṃ sūktaṃ drupadāṃ vā tathā japet yuñjate mana ity evaṃ sūktaṃ sūktaṃ vāpyatha pauruṣaṃ
There one should recite the Aghamarṣaṇa Sūkta, or likewise the Drupadā hymn, and also the hymn beginning “yuñjate manaḥ…”. Thus one may recite a sūkta—or even repeat a sūkta—and thereafter the Pauruṣa (Puruṣa Sūkta).
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta-japa and śuddhi through Vedic sūkta recitation: Aghamarṣaṇa, Drupadā hymn, Yuñjate manaḥ hymn, and Puruṣa Sūkta as purificatory recitations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta-śuddhi sūkta-japa set (Aghamarṣaṇa, Drupadā, Yuñjate manaḥ, Puruṣa)","lookup_keywords":["aghamarṣaṇa sūkta","drupadā","yuñjate manaḥ","puruṣa sūkta","prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"For expiation and purification, recite Aghamarṣaṇa or Drupadā, add the Yuñjate manaḥ hymn, and conclude with the Puruṣa Sūkta—forming a flexible sūkta-japa sequence."}
Concept: Pāpa-kṣaya through śruti-japa: sound (mantra) as a dhārmic means to restore ritual and moral order.
Application: Use these sūktas as prescribed expiatory recitations after impurity, lapse, or before major rites; select according to tradition and context.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Japa-vidhi (Purificatory rites and Vedic recitation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A purified practitioner seated on kuśa grass near water, counting japa with fingers, reciting expiatory sūktas; a subtle vision of cosmic Puruṣa suggested in the background as the Puruṣa Sūkta is invoked.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic seated by riverbank with kuśa mat, palm-leaf manuscript, calm aura, faint cosmic form behind, traditional flat perspective and warm tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated devotee with rosary and manuscript, gold-leaf halo, stylized cosmic Puruṣa motif behind, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional japa posture, hand mudrā for counting, minimal background with water pot and kuśa, soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-devotee in a garden pavilion near a water channel, fine manuscript details, subtle symbolic cosmic figure in clouds"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatrāghamarṣaṇaṃ = तत्र + अघमर्षणम्; ity evaṃ = इति + एवम्; vāpyatha = वा + अपि + अथ
Related Themes: Agni Purana 155 (prāyaścitta & japa-vidhi context)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical japa-sequence for purification/expiation: recite specific Vedic hymns by incipit—Aghamarṣaṇa, Drupadā, “yuñjate manaḥ…”, and then the Pauruṣa (Puruṣa Sūkta).
It functions like a ritual manual embedded in the Purāṇa, cataloguing authoritative Vedic sūktas to be deployed for prāyaścitta and mental purification—showing the text’s coverage of liturgy alongside theology and ethics.
By directing recitation of ‘sin-dispelling’ and cosmic-order hymns (Aghamarṣaṇa and Puruṣa Sūkta), it frames japa as a means to cleanse pāpa, steady the mind, and restore ritual and moral purity.