Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 18
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
भुक्तवत्सु द्विजेन्द्रेषु पूजितेषु धनेन च विसृष्टाक्षततोयेषु गोत्रनामानुकीर्तनैः
bhuktavatsu dvijendreṣu pūjiteṣu dhanena ca visṛṣṭākṣatatoyeṣu gotranāmānukīrtanaiḥ
Lorsque les plus éminents des deux-fois-nés (brāhmaṇas) ont fini de manger et ont été honorés par des dons, et lorsque des grains de riz (akṣata) et de l’eau ont été offerts comme il se doit—avec la récitation des noms de gotra—[le rite se poursuit selon la prescription].
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Sequencing of śrāddha hospitality: after Brāhmaṇas eat, honor them with gifts, then perform akṣata-toya offerings and gotra-name recitations as part of rite completion.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Brāhmaṇa-bhojana completion and gotra-nāma offerings in śrāddha","lookup_keywords":["brāhmaṇa-bhojana","dakṣiṇā","akṣata","toya","gotra-nāma"],"quick_summary":"Complete śrāddha by ensuring the invited Brāhmaṇas have eaten and been honored with gifts, then offer rice-grains and water while reciting gotra names in the prescribed order."}
Concept: Dāna (honoring with wealth) and correct mantra-address (gotra-nāma) finalize pitṛ obligations through orderly ritual action.
Application: In śrāddha, do not omit dakṣiṇā and the concluding akṣata-toya with gotra recitation; these mark proper closure and merit transfer.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrāddha / Pitṛ-kriyā and Brāhmaṇa-bhojana procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A row of Brāhmaṇas finishing a ritual meal; the host offers dakṣiṇā; nearby, a plate of akṣata and a water vessel are used while gotra names are recited.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, banquet line of dvijas on leaf plates, host presenting cloth/coins, akṣata bowl and kalaśa in foreground, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf on vessels and ornaments, symmetrical arrangement of seated Brāhmaṇas, host with offering tray, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise instructional composition: (1) feeding, (2) honoring with gifts, (3) akṣata-toya offering with gotra recitation; crisp lines and labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined dining scene with attendants, host distributing gifts, small ritual corner with rice grains and water pot, detailed textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्विजेन्द्रेषु = द्विज-इन्द्रेषु; विसृष्टाक्षततोयेषु = विसृष्ट-अक्षत-तोयेषु; गोत्रनामानुकीर्तनैः = गोत्र-नाम-अनुकीर्तनैः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157.17 (piṇḍa and nāma-gotra); Agni Purana 157 (śrāddha procedural cluster)
FAQs
It specifies the post-meal completion steps in a Śrāddha/rite: honoring Brāhmaṇas with dakṣiṇā and performing the formal offering of akṣata (unbroken rice) and water while reciting the relevant gotra names.
It preserves a precise, procedural ritual rubric—detailing sequencing (after eating), materials (akṣata, water), and formal speech acts (gotra-nāma recitation)—showing the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a practical manual alongside its theological content.
Correct honor (pūjā/dakṣiṇā) and properly named offerings are treated as essential for the rite’s efficacy—ensuring the intended ancestral recipients are invoked and the performer gains purification and merit through accurate, respectful completion.