Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 24
Dānādi-māhātmya — The Glory of Gifts, Manuscript-Donation, and Purāṇic Transmission
वाचकं पूजयेदादौ भोजयेत् पायसैर् द्विजान् गोभूग्रामसुवर्णादि दद्यात्पर्वणि पर्वणि
vācakaṃ pūjayedādau bhojayet pāyasair dvijān gobhūgrāmasuvarṇādi dadyātparvaṇi parvaṇi
First one should honor the reciter; then one should feed the twice-born (dvija) with milk-rice (pāyasa). And at each sacred occasion (parvan), one should give gifts such as cows, land, villages, gold, and the like.
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Organizing a proper pāraṇa/recitation observance: honor the vācaka, feed qualified guests, and schedule dāna at each parvan for accruing ritual merit and social welfare.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vācaka-pūjā, brāhmaṇa-bhojana, and parvan-dāna","lookup_keywords":["vācaka-pūjā","pāyasa-bhojana","parvan","go-dāna","suvarṇa-dāna"],"quick_summary":"Begin by honoring the reciter, then feed dvijas with pāyasa; on each parvan, give substantial gifts (cow, land, village, gold) to complete the rite with merit."}
Concept: Dharma is stabilized by honoring the transmitter of śāstra (vācaka), feeding the worthy, and converting wealth into merit through timely dāna.
Application: In any śravaṇa/pravacana setting, prioritize guru/reciter honorarium, communal feeding, and periodic charity rather than private consumption.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Procedures for Recitation, Gifts, and Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual hall where the reciter is honored first; dvijas seated in a row are served bowls of pāyasa; donors present cows, gold, and land-grant tokens on a parvan day.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, vācaka seated on a low wooden āsana with palm-leaf manuscript, devotees offering flowers and dakṣiṇā, dvijas receiving pāyasa in bronze bowls, stylized lamps and temple pillars, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central vācaka with ornate arch, gold foil highlights on vessels and ornaments, donors presenting cow and gold, dvijas dining on pāyasa, rich reds and greens, devotional ceremonial symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional clarity: sequence panels—(1) vācaka-pūjā (2) pāyasa-bhojana (3) parvan-dāna of cow/land/gold, soft shading, delicate borders","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly assembly in a pavilion, reciter honored with shawl, attendants serving milk-rice, ledger-like depiction of gifts (cow, gold, land deed), detailed textiles and architecture, naturalistic faces"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūjayed-ādau = pūjayet + ādau; dadyāt-parvaṇi = dadyāt + parvaṇi; gobhūgrāmasuvarṇādi treated as a compound list (dvandva) with ādi ‘etc.’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 271 (pūjā-vidhi, dāna, kṣamāpana context)
FAQs
It prescribes a recitation-associated ritual protocol: honor the designated reciter (vācaka), perform dvija-bhojana with pāyasa, and offer recurring parvan-based gifts (dāna) such as cows, land, gold, etc.
Beyond theology, it codifies practical religious procedure—how Purāṇic listening/recitation is institutionally supported through hospitality, feeding rites, and structured charity tied to calendrical sacred occasions (parvans).
Honoring the reciter, feeding the learned, and making periodic donations are presented as merit-generating acts that sanctify the rite of Purāṇa-recitation and accrue puṇya through service, generosity, and ritual regularity.