Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 43
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
पितॄणामक्षयं श्राद्धमक्षयं ब्रह्मलोकदम्
pitṝṇāmakṣayaṃ śrāddhamakṣayaṃ brahmalokadam
Ce śrāddha offert aux Pitṛs est impérissable quant à son mérite ; et, parce qu’il est impérissable, il confère l’accès au monde de Brahmā (Brahmaloka).
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the primary narrator of Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Affirms the enduring merit (akṣaya-phala) of properly performed pitṛ-śrāddha, motivating regular ancestral rites for spiritual welfare of family line.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Akṣaya-śrāddha and Brahmaloka-phala","lookup_keywords":["akṣaya śrāddha","pitṛ-kārya","brahmaloka","śrāddha-phala","puṇya"],"quick_summary":"Śrāddha offered to the Pitṛs is declared imperishable in merit; its stated fruit is attainment of Brahmaloka, emphasizing the high soteriological value of pitṛ-tarpaṇa and śrāddha."}
Alamkara Type: Punarnukti (intentional repetition) / Yamaka-like emphasis on 'akṣaya'
Concept: Karma-phala is enduring when aligned with śāstra and directed to Pitṛs; ritual action can yield higher-loka attainment.
Application: Perform śrāddha with correct vidhi and śraddhā to secure lasting puṇya and uplift of lineage.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-kārya and ancestral rites)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder performs pitṛ-śrāddha with piṇḍa offerings and water libations, while an unseen radiance suggests the imperishable merit leading upward toward Brahmaloka.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: a gṛhastha in white dhoti offering piṇḍa and tila-jala before a small śrāddha altar, subtle golden aura rising to a distant lotus-like Brahmaloka, earthy reds and ochres, stylized flames and lotuses.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central seated householder offering piṇḍa to Pitṛs symbolized as luminous ancestral figures, heavy gold foil halo motifs, ornate border, Brahmā’s loka hinted as a golden lotus realm above.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean instructional composition showing śrāddha setup—piṇḍas on darbha, pātra of tila-jala, brāhmaṇa recipient—soft shading, delicate linework, caption-like clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard śrāddha scene with detailed vessels, darbha, and brāhmaṇa guests; a vertical compositional cue of ascending light toward a stylized celestial pavilion representing Brahmaloka, fine textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितॄणामक्षयम् → पितॄणाम् + अक्षयम्; श्राद्धमक्षयम् → श्राद्धम् + अक्षयम्; ब्रह्मलोकदम् = ब्रह्मलोक + द (ददाति इति, ‘giver of Brahmaloka’).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Śrāddha-vidhi sections (preceding pitṛ-kārya rules); Agni Purana Gaya-māhātmya and Śrāddha-kalpa (immediately following chapters)
FAQs
It states the core ritual doctrine of “akṣaya-śrāddha”: a properly performed śrāddha for the Pitṛs yields inexhaustible merit and is specifically credited with granting Brahmaloka.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s catalog-style treatment of dharma topics by recording precise phala-śruti (result-statements) for rites—linking ritual performance (śrāddha) to defined cosmological outcomes (Brahmaloka).
The verse teaches that ancestral rites can generate “akṣaya” (non-depleting) puṇya, elevating the practitioner’s posthumous destiny toward higher worlds, here explicitly Brahmaloka.