Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 10
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
पद्मोत्पलकदम्बैश् च श्रीर्बलं बलाद्रुमोदकैः विष्णुपादोदकस्नानं सर्वस्नानेभ्य उत्तमम्
padmotpalakadambaiś ca śrīrbalaṃ balādrumodakaiḥ viṣṇupādodakasnānaṃ sarvasnānebhya uttamam
With lotus, blue-lotus, and kadamba flowers, with auspiciousness and strength, and with the water of the balā-tree—bathing in the water that has washed Viṣṇu’s feet is the supreme among all baths.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Tirtha-snāna and purification: preparing a sanctified bath using flowers and especially Viṣṇu-pādodaka (caraṇāmṛta) as the highest purificatory bath in pūjā and vrata contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-pādodaka-snāna as the Supreme Bath","lookup_keywords":["viṣṇu-pādodaka","caraṇāmṛta","tīrtha-snāna","padma-utpala-kadamba","śauca"],"quick_summary":"Among all ritual baths, bathing with water that has washed Viṣṇu’s feet is declared supreme; it is enhanced with auspicious flowers and sanctifying substances for śauca and puṇya."}
Concept: Śuddhi through bhagavat-sambandha: contact with Viṣṇu’s sanctified water is held to surpass ordinary external purifications.
Application: Use caraṇāmṛta in daily pūjā and vrata baths as a culminating purification, especially before japa, homa, and darśana.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tirtha-snāna and purification rites)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee prepares a ritual bath with lotus, blue-lotus, and kadamba flowers; a priest offers caraṇāmṛta/Viṣṇu-pādodaka into a bathing vessel, emphasizing its supremacy among baths.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, ornate borders; priest holding a golden kalaśa of Viṣṇu-pādodaka, lotus and utpala garlands, serene tīrtha-snāna setting, traditional jewelry and textiles, sacred water shimmering","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with rich gold leaf; central kalaśa labeled caraṇāmṛta, lotus and kadamba flowers in relief, devotee in añjali, temple lamp glow, heavy ornamentation and embossed halos","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework; instructional arrangement of snāna items—padma, utpala, kadamba, water vessel—priest pouring Viṣṇu-pādodaka into bath, calm devotional interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing; courtyard ablution scene with attendants holding flower trays, a small vessel of sacred foot-washed water, subtle architectural arches, naturalistic lotus rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पद्मोत्पलकदम्बैश् → पद्मोत्पलकदम्बैः; सर्वस्नानेभ्य → सर्वस्नानेभ्यः. समासाः: पद्म-उत्पल-कदम्ब (द्वन्द्व), बला-द्रुम-उदक (तत्पुरुष), विष्णु-पाद-उदक-स्नान (तत्पुरुष), सर्व-स्नान (तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 266 (pūjā-vidhi, tīrtha, snāna, rakṣā)
FAQs
It teaches a snāna-vidhi hierarchy: bathing with viṣṇupādodaka (caraṇāmṛta/tīrtha—water sanctified by washing Viṣṇu’s feet) is declared superior to all other ritual baths, and it notes supportive ritual substances like lotus-family flowers and balā-tree water.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s catalog-like treatment of practical dharma: it classifies purification practices, specifies ritual materials (flowers, sacred water), and even touches an Ayurveda-adjacent ingredient (balā) within a liturgical context—showing how ritual, theology, and applied knowledge interlock.
The verse assigns the highest purificatory merit to viṣṇupādodaka-snāna, implying exceptional śuddhi (purity), śrī (auspicious fortune), and spiritual uplift compared to ordinary baths.