Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
Chapter 171 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Prāyaścittāni / Expiations
श्रीकामः पुष्टिकामश् च स्वर्गकामो ऽघनष्टये देवताराधनपरः कृच्छ्रकारी स सर्वभाक्
śrīkāmaḥ puṣṭikāmaś ca svargakāmo 'ghanaṣṭaye devatārādhanaparaḥ kṛcchrakārī sa sarvabhāk
He who desires prosperity, he who desires nourishment and strength, and he who desires heaven—seeking the destruction of sin—should be devoted to the worship of the deities; performing the kṛcchra austerity, he becomes a partaker of all (desired results/merits).
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual and expiation instructions to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Undertake deity-worship with kṛcchra austerity to seek prosperity, strength, heaven, and sin-destruction, framing goals within dharmic discipline.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Devatārādhana with Kṛcchra for Śrī–Puṣṭi–Svarga and Agha-nāśa","lookup_keywords":["devataradhana","krcchra","shrikama","pustikama","svargakama"],"quick_summary":"For prosperity, nourishment/strength, and heavenly merit—along with removal of sin—one should worship the deities and perform kṛcchra austerity, becoming entitled to the stated fruits."}
Concept: Desires are to be pursued through disciplined worship and austerity, converting kāma into dharma-aligned effort.
Application: When seeking worldly or otherworldly aims, add structured restraint (kṛcchra) and regular worship to prevent indulgence and cultivate merit.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devatārādhanavidhi (Ritual worship and expiatory observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performing deity-worship with austerity—simple altar, offerings, restrained posture—symbolically receiving prosperity, strength, and heavenly merit while sins dissolve.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devotee before a small shrine with lamps and flowers, austere setting, subtle divine radiance indicating śrī and puṣṭi, calm devotional restraint.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented deity panel with gold work, devotee in humble posture performing ārādhana, symbolic motifs of Lakṣmī (śrī) and abundance (puṣṭi) around the frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of kṛcchra austerity alongside worship: minimal food bowl, prayer beads, altar items neatly arranged, clear narrative sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet restrained worship scene, devotee with simple offerings, ethereal haloed figures representing desired fruits, delicate architectural interior."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svargakāmaḥ aghanaṣṭaye → svargakāmo 'ghanaṣṭaye (o + a); puṣṭikāmaḥ ca → puṣṭikāmaś ca; sarvabhāk is sandhi form of sarva-bhāk.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 171 (kṛcchra/prāyaścitta rules); Agni Purana 172-173 (transition to sarvapāpa-prāyaścitta; stuti as expiation)
FAQs
It prescribes devatārādhana (systematic deity-worship) together with kṛcchra (a formal expiatory austerity) as a practical means to obtain prosperity, nourishment, and heaven, while specifically aiming at agha-naṣṭi (sin-destruction).
It exemplifies the Purana’s procedural coverage of dharma: not only stating spiritual goals (śrī, puṣṭi, svarga) but also linking them to concrete ritual technologies—ārādhana (worship protocols) and prāyaścitta categories like kṛcchra—showing its handbook-like scope.
The verse frames worship plus disciplined penance as a karmic purifier: by removing agha (sin/impurity), the practitioner becomes eligible to “partake of all” meritorious results—worldly well-being and higher post-mortem attainments.