Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 41
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
त्वं मे साक्षी भवाद्येह अनृणो ऽहमृणत्रयात् द्धबुद्धियुक्तमिति घ , छ च कालार्तिनाशनमिति घ कालार्तिदलनमिति ग , ङ , घ , ज च पालिताखिलदेवेशमिति घ स्थिततरमिति ग , घ , ङ च वन्देहमरिमर्दनमिति ङ वन्दे संसारमर्दनमिति ज साक्षिणः सन्तु मे देवा ब्रह्मेशानादयस् तथा
tvaṃ me sākṣī bhavādyeha anṛṇo 'hamṛṇatrayāt ddhabuddhiyuktamiti gha , cha ca kālārtināśanamiti gha kālārtidalanamiti ga , ṅa , gha , ja ca pālitākhiladeveśamiti gha sthitataramiti ga , gha , ṅa ca vandehamarimardanamiti ṅa vande saṃsāramardanamiti ja sākṣiṇaḥ santu me devā brahmeśānādayas tathā
Sois mon témoin ici et maintenant, afin que je sois délivré de la triple dette (envers les dieux, les ṛṣi et les ancêtres). (Dans certaines recensions, on lit des variantes : « doté d’une résolution ferme » ; « destructeur des afflictions du temps » ; « broyeur des afflictions du temps » ; « protecteur de tous, Seigneur des dieux » ; « le plus ferme » ; « je me prosterne devant le broyeur des ennemis » ; « je me prosterne devant le broyeur du saṃsāra ».) Et que les dieux—Brahmā, Īśāna (Śiva) et les autres—soient aussi mes témoins.
Lord Agni (narrating the mantra/rite) to the sage Vasiṣṭha (frame setting of Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Witness-invocation (sākṣī-bhāva) and prāyaścitta framing to become free of the three debts (ṛṇa-traya) during śrāddha/ritual acts; also preserves recension-variants for liturgical use.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Sākṣī-mantra for Ṛṇa-traya-śodhana (Devatā-witness in rites)","lookup_keywords":["sākṣī","ṛṇa-traya","prāyaścitta","Brahmā","Īśāna"],"quick_summary":"A ritual formula asking the deity and the assembly of gods to bear witness so the performer becomes free from the threefold debts; includes recognized variant readings used in different recensions."}
Concept: Ṛṇa-traya (deva-ṛṣi-pitṛ debts) is discharged through disciplined life and rites; invoking divine witness strengthens saṅkalpa and accountability.
Application: Before/after śrāddha, state intention clearly, invoke sākṣitva, and complete duties to gods (yajña), sages (svādhyāya), and ancestors (śrāddha) without negligence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Stotra-Mantra (Prāyaścitta, Sākṣī-bhāva, Devatā-sākṣya)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist stands with folded hands, declaring the deity as witness; behind, Brahmā and Īśāna with other gods appear as subtle luminous witnesses above the ritual space, emphasizing solemn accountability.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: devotee/priest in ritual posture, sacred fire or śrāddha setup below, celestial witnesses (Brahmā four-faced, Īśāna/Śiva) in upper register, stylized clouds and halos, strong outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central witnessing deity (Viṣṇu or chosen iṣṭa) with gold halo; side medallions of Brahmā and Īśāna; foreground shows saṅkalpa gesture with water in palm; heavy gold embossing for divine witness motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition—ritualist performing saṅkalpa, text-cartouche for “tvam me sākṣī bhava”, faint divine figures above; fine linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate indoor ritual scene with a hovering celestial assembly as witnesses; delicate architectural frame, calligraphic panels indicating variant readings, refined detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भवाद्येह = भव + अद्य + इह. अनृणो 'हम् = अनृणः + अहम्. अहम् ऋणत्रयात् (अहमृणत्रयात् संधि). मध्यभागे पाठान्तर-सूचनाः (ddhabuddhiyuktamiti..., kālārtināśanamiti...) इत्यादयः टीका/पाठभेद-निर्देशाः, श्लोक-पदानि न गण्यन्ते।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (prāyaścitta/sākṣī framing around Gayā rites)
FAQs
It gives a sāksī-invocation used in ritual speech: the practitioner calls the deity (and the assembly of gods) as witnesses and seeks release from ṛṇa-traya—obligations to gods (sacrifice), sages (study), and ancestors (progeny/rites).
Alongside theology, it preserves applied ritual formulae (mantra-prayoga) and dharma concepts like ṛṇa-traya, while also recording multiple manuscript epithets—showing the text’s role as a compendium of liturgy, doctrine, and transmission variants.
Invoking divine witnesses formalizes truthfulness and intention (saṅkalpa) and frames the act as karmically purifying—aimed at discharging fundamental life-obligations and seeking protection from time-born afflictions and the bondage of saṃsāra.