Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
प्रीणयन्ति मनुष्याणां पितॄन् श्राद्धेन तर्पिताः आयुः प्रजां धनं विद्यां स्वर्गं मोक्षं सुखानि च
prīṇayanti manuṣyāṇāṃ pitṝn śrāddhena tarpitāḥ āyuḥ prajāṃ dhanaṃ vidyāṃ svargaṃ mokṣaṃ sukhāni ca
When the Pitṛs (ancestors) of human beings are satisfied and nourished through Śrāddha, they rejoice and in return bestow longevity, offspring, wealth, learning, heaven, liberation (mokṣa), and happiness.
Lord Agni (narrating the śrāddha doctrine to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Teaches the reciprocal ethic of pitṛ-satisfaction through śrāddha and the resulting blessings, reinforcing regular ancestral rites as a stabilizing social-religious duty.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pitṛ-prasāda-phala (Blessings from satisfied ancestors)","lookup_keywords":["pitṛ-tarpaṇa","śrāddha","āyuḥ","svarga","mokṣa"],"quick_summary":"Śrāddha that truly satisfies the pitṛs is said to yield a spectrum of results—from longevity, progeny, wealth, and learning to heaven, liberation, and happiness—bridging worldly and transcendent aims."}
Concept: Intergenerational reciprocity: honoring pitṛs sustains both artha/kāma (prosperity, progeny) and dharma/mokṣa (heaven, liberation).
Application: Maintain periodic śrāddha/tarpaṇa with sincerity (prīṇana) rather than mere formality, aligning household life with long-term spiritual goals.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and ancestral rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pitṛs, satisfied by offerings, extend blessings toward a family—children, wealth, books (learning), and a symbolic path to svarga and mokṣa shown as ascending steps or light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, pitṛs in subtle ancestral forms receiving tarpaṇa, blessing rays toward a household with child, grantha (book), and grain/coins, a luminous stairway to svarga and a serene lotus for mokṣa, earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central śrāddha altar with gold-highlighted vessels, pitṛs in a haloed upper register bestowing boons; icons for āyuḥ (kalasha), prajā (child), dhana (coins), vidyā (palm-leaf manuscripts), svarga/mokṣa as golden aura","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic panel sequence: (1) tarpaṇa (2) pitṛ satisfaction (3) listed fruits depicted as small emblems; clean composition and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, family courtyard with ritual, above them ancestors in cloud-band gesture blessings; detailed domestic prosperity elements—books, jewelry, children—plus a distant luminous horizon symbolizing svarga/mokṣa"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major sandhi beyond standard word-joining; tarpitāḥ is PPP agreeing with implied subject ‘pitaraḥ’ from previous verse.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (śrāddha-kalpa; phala statements)
FAQs
It teaches the ritual principle that performing śrāddha as pitṛ-tarpaṇa (satisfying the ancestors through offerings done with śraddhā) is a prescribed means to secure specific fruits—āyuḥ, prajā, dhana, vidyā—along with svarga and even mokṣa.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s dharma-śāstra-like coverage of household ritual practice by cataloging the concrete “phala” (results) of śrāddha—linking ritual action to social goods (progeny, wealth, education) and soteriological goals (heaven and liberation).
The verse frames śrāddha as a karmically potent act of gratitude and continuity: pleasing the pitṛs stabilizes one’s lineage and welfare in this life while supporting post-mortem welfare (svarga) and the highest aim (mokṣa) through dharmic merit.