Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 11
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
ब्रह्मण्यदेव गोविन्द परमार्थपरायण जगन्नाथ जगद्धातः पापं प्रशमयाच्युत
brahmaṇyadeva govinda paramārthaparāyaṇa jagannātha jagaddhātaḥ pāpaṃ praśamayācyuta
O Brahmaṇya-deva, God devoted to the Brahmins and sacred order; O Govinda, intent on the highest good; O Jagannātha, O Supporter of the world—O Acyuta, pacify and remove my sin.
Lord Agni (narrating the Purana’s devotional/ritual content in dialogue tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Nāma-japa prayer for pāpa-praśamana, aligning oneself with parama-artha (highest good) and dharmic order (brahmaṇya).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Invocation of Govinda as Brahmaṇya-deva and Jagannātha for sin-pacification","lookup_keywords":["Brahmaṇya-deva","Govinda","Jagannātha","Jagaddhātṛ","Acyuta"],"quick_summary":"Calls on Viṣṇu as protector of sacred order and sustainer of the world; used as a concise prayer to remove sin and reorient life toward the highest good."}
Alamkara Type: Epithets in gradation (paryāya-samuccaya)
Concept: Brahmaṇyatva (upholding sacred order) and parama-artha orientation as antidotes to pāpa; īśvara as jagat-ādhāra (support of the world).
Application: Strengthen dharmic conduct (satya, ahiṃsā, śauca) and dedicate actions to the highest good; use this prayer as daily moral reset.
Khanda Section: Stotra / Nama-japa (Vishnu-Bhakti and Papa-shamana prayer within Purana recitation context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu as Jagannātha/Jagaddhātṛ stands or sits as cosmic sustainer while a devotee prays for sin-removal; the universe motif appears within the halo.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: majestic Viṣṇu with expansive prabhā, subtle depiction of worlds/lotus within the aura, devotee offering flowers, temple backdrop with lamps and floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented Viṣṇu with gold halo, miniature globe/lotus-world motif near the chest, devotee at the base, heavy gold work emphasizing 'Jagannātha' grandeur.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: balanced composition with clear labels of epithets around the figure, calm devotional scene suitable for instructional recitation, soft pastel palette and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: cosmic lord depicted with a stylized universe disc behind, devotee in elegant attire, intricate floral margins, delicate gold and lapis tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्रह्मण्यदेव = ब्रह्मण्य + देव (समास). प्रशमयाच्युत = प्रशमय + अच्युत (य + अ → या).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172 (Vishnu-nāma stotra/prāyaścitta set)
FAQs
It conveys stotra-vidhi in practice: invoking Vishnu by specific epithets (Govinda, Jagannatha, Acyuta) as a focused prayer for papa-shamana (pacification/removal of sin), suitable for japa or recitation.
Alongside subjects like governance, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana also preserves practical devotional technologies—name-based invocation, stuti, and purification-oriented prayer—showing its breadth from ritual spirituality to applied knowledge.
The verse frames Vishnu-remembrance as a means of reducing karmic demerit (pāpa), emphasizing surrender to the “supreme-goal-oriented” Lord as a purificatory act supportive of dharma and liberation-oriented life.