Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
एके द्वयोर्यतो यस्मिन् यः सर्वमिति वेद यः तं दृष्ट्वान्यस्य पापानि विनश्यन्ति हरिश् च सः
eke dvayoryato yasmin yaḥ sarvamiti veda yaḥ taṃ dṛṣṭvānyasya pāpāni vinaśyanti hariś ca saḥ
He is the One whom some describe as the source of the two (the duality of manifest principles); He is that in whom all abides; He is the one who knows, “All this is He alone.” Having beheld Him, the sins of another are destroyed—and He indeed is Hari.
Lord Agni (teaching Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s primary dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Bhakti-yoga","practical_application":"Encourages darśana (beholding) and non-dual recognition of Hari as all, presenting a devotional-metaphysical basis for purification and intercessory merit.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Hari as the One-in-whom-all-abides; darśana destroys sin","lookup_keywords":["Hari-darshana","sarvam iti","papa-nasha","eka","adhisthana"],"quick_summary":"Defines Hari as the One underlying duality and as the all-abiding ground; seeing Him is taught as a purifier that can destroy even another’s sins, emphasizing salvific darśana."}
Alamkara Type: Paradox/Viśeṣokti (destroying another’s sins by one’s darśana); also philosophical lakṣaṇā
Concept: Recognition of Hari as the substratum of all (sarvādhāra) and as the knower of ‘all is He’; darśana functions as a purifier beyond ordinary karmic limits.
Application: Practice darśana with sankalpa for loka-kalyāṇa: visit temple, perform ācamana, offer namaskāra, contemplate ‘sarvam hariḥ’, and dedicate merit for others.
Khanda Section: Bhakti-yoga and Hari-darshana (Vishnu devotion; merit of seeing the Lord)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee beholds Hari; a luminous aura radiates from the deity, and dark ‘pāpa’ forms dissolve, extending even toward another figure standing behind the devotee to show ‘another’s sins’ being destroyed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Vishnu in sanctum-like frame, devotee with folded hands, stylized dark smoke of sins dissolving into golden halo, strong outlines, sacred lamp motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Vishnu with brilliant prabhāmaṇḍala in gold leaf, devotee at the base, secondary figure receiving grace, embossed gold rays symbolizing pāpa-nāśa, rich ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, gentle devotional scene at temple doorway, emphasis on facial serenity, subtle depiction of sins as fading shadows, clean composition suitable for didactic bhakti theme.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, temple pavilion with Vishnu image, two figures (devotee and ‘another’) with dissolving ink-like clouds, fine architectural detail, luminous central deity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्वयोर्यतो = द्वयोः + यतः; दृष्ट्वान्यस्य = दृष्ट्वा + अन्यस्य; हरिश् च = हरिः + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vishnu-stotra and bhakti sections near ch. 174; Agni Purana: tīrtha-māhātmya/dāna-vrata passages where darśana yields merit
FAQs
It teaches Hari-tattva in a Vedantic-bhakti frame: realizing Vishnu as the all-pervading ground of duality and that His darshana (vision) is a purifying spiritual practice.
Alongside rituals and practical sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves compact metaphysical theology—here, a doctrine of non-dual all-in-Hari reality and the soteriology of darshana.
The verse asserts that beholding Hari destroys sin—even of another—highlighting the Lord’s power as Harī (the remover) and the extraordinary merit (puṇya) of divine vision.