Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 8
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
तृतीयायां विशालायां निश्चिरायाञ्च पिण्डदः ऋणमोक्षे पापमोक्षे भस्मकुण्डे ऽथ भस्मना
tṛtīyāyāṃ viśālāyāṃ niścirāyāñca piṇḍadaḥ ṛṇamokṣe pāpamokṣe bhasmakuṇḍe 'tha bhasmanā
Dans le troisième tīrtha, nommé Viśālā, et aussi à Niścirā, celui qui offre le piṇḍa (oblations funéraires) obtient la délivrance. À Ṛṇamokṣa et à Pāpamokṣa, on est libéré des dettes et des péchés ; et à Bhasmakuṇḍa, le mérite s’acquiert par l’usage de la cendre sacrée (bhasma).
Lord Agni (in dialogue, traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Pilgrimage planning for śrāddha: selecting specific tīrthas for piṇḍa-dāna, debt-relief (ṛṇa-śānti), sin-expatiation (pāpa-kṣaya), and use of bhasma as a purifier.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Tīrtha-phala for Piṇḍa-dāna: Viśālā, Niścirā, Ṛṇamokṣa, Pāpamokṣa, Bhasmakuṇḍa","lookup_keywords":["Viśālā tīrtha","Niścirā","Ṛṇamokṣa","Pāpamokṣa","Bhasmakuṇḍa bhasma"],"quick_summary":"The verse maps specific tīrthas to specific results: liberation through piṇḍa-dāna, release from debts and sins, and purification/merit through sacred ash at Bhasmakuṇḍa."}
Concept: Karma-kṣaya through tīrtha, dāna, and śuddhi-dravya (bhasma).
Application: Perform piṇḍa-dāna and snāna at designated tīrthas with intent (saṅkalpa) for debt/sin release and purification.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha & Pretakriyā (Piṇḍa-dāna, Tīrtha-snānāni, Prāyaścitta)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pilgrim at multiple tīrthas offering piṇḍas on riverbank altars; a separate vignette shows Bhasmakuṇḍa where sacred ash is applied as purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, riverbank tīrtha with stone ghats, pilgrim in white dhoti offering piṇḍa on leaf plate, labeled tīrthas as small shrine markers, Bhasmakuṇḍa with ash-smeared ascetics, earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central tīrtha shrine with ornate arch, pilgrim offering piṇḍa, gold-leaf highlights on shrine and vessels, small inset of Bhasmakuṇḍa with bhasma bowl, rich maroons and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: five labeled tīrthas in panels, each panel shows the act (piṇḍa-dāna, snāna, bhasma application), delicate linework, soft shading, clear ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic pilgrimage route with multiple stops, attendants carrying offerings, river scenes, small captions for Viśālā/Niścirā/Ṛṇamokṣa/Pāpamokṣa/Bhasmakuṇḍa, fine architectural detail and naturalistic landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: निश्चिरायाञ्च = निश्चिरायाम् + च; कुण्डे ऽथ = कुण्डे + अथ (अवग्रह).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (Śrāddha & Pretakriyā section); Agni Purana śrāddha/tīrtha-māhātmya passages in adjacent verses (116.9–116.12)
FAQs
It lists specific tīrthas where performing piṇḍa-dāna (śrāddha offering) and using bhasma (sacred ash) is said to yield defined results—release from debts (ṛṇa) and sins (pāpa), and general purification/merit at Bhasmakuṇḍa.
It functions as a compact ritual gazetteer—mapping practices (piṇḍa-dāna, bhasma-upayoga) to named sacred sites and their fruits—showing how the text catalogs geography, rites, and expiatory outcomes in a reference-like style.
The verse frames tīrtha-based śrāddha and ash-purification as mechanisms for karmic alleviation—specifically, mitigating indebtedness and sin—thereby supporting ancestral welfare and the practitioner’s purification.