Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 18
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
मातामहानामित्यादिः, स्वपितृभ्यः स्वधोच्यतामित्यन्तः पाठः झ पुस्तके नास्ति कुर्युरस्तु स्वधेत्युक्ते भूमौ सिञ्चेत्ततो जलं प्रीयन्तामिति वा दैवं विश्वे देवा जलं ददेत्
mātāmahānāmityādiḥ, svapitṛbhyaḥ svadhocyatāmityantaḥ pāṭhaḥ jha pustake nāsti kuryurastu svadhetyukte bhūmau siñcettato jalaṃ prīyantāmiti vā daivaṃ viśve devā jalaṃ dadet
« En commençant par “(aux) grands-pères maternels …” » : la leçon qui se termine par « que “svadhā” soit prononcé pour ses propres ancêtres » ne se trouve pas dans le manuscrit Jha. Quand il est dit : « Qu’ils le fassent ainsi — “svadhā” », on verse alors de l’eau sur le sol. Ou bien l’on peut dire : « Qu’ils soient satisfaits ». Ou encore, comme offrande aux dieux, on donnera de l’eau aux Viśve-devas.
Lord Agni (instructional narration in Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Tarpana options and textual-variant awareness: after svadhā, pour water on the ground; optionally utter ‘prīyantām’; alternatively offer water to Viśve-devas as a deva-offering adjunct.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Tarpana water-pouring after svadhā; optional satisfaction formula; Viśve-deva water-offering; note on manuscript variant","lookup_keywords":["tarpana","svadhā","prīyantām","Viśve-deva","pāṭha-bheda"],"quick_summary":"After the svadhā cue, pour water onto the ground for pitṛ-tarpaṇa; one may add ‘may they be satisfied,’ or redirect a water-offering to the Viśve-devas as a deva-oriented alternative; the verse also preserves a pāṭha-bheda note."}
Concept: Ritual adaptability within śāstric bounds (vikalpa) and the authority of transmission (pāṭha-bheda) alongside the central aim—satisfaction of pitṛs/devas through water.
Application: If following a tradition that includes the optional phrases, add them; otherwise keep the core act: water poured to ground after svadhā, with optional Viśve-deva offering as prescribed.
Khanda Section: Shraddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and ancestral water-offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"After the svadhā utterance, the performer pours water onto the earth; an alternate panel shows offering water to the Viśve-devas; a marginal note indicates a manuscript reading difference.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central figure pouring water onto ground near darbha, side vignette of Viśve-devas symbolized as a group of radiant figures receiving water, decorative script-like border hinting pāṭha-bheda.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted water stream and vessel, grouped Viśve-devas as small crowned figures with halos, inscription panel showing variant reading, rich temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional split-scene: (A) svadhā then ground-libation (B) ‘prīyantām’ utterance (C) Viśve-deva water offering; neat labels and precise ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-scribe margin note about Jha manuscript, detailed water-pouring gesture, alternate offering to a stylized assembly of deities, fine calligraphy and borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mātāmahānāmityādiḥ = mātāmahānām + iti + ādiḥ; svadhocyatāmityantaḥ = svadhā + ucyatām + iti + antaḥ; svadhetyukte = svadhe + iti + ukte; siñcettato = siñcet + tataḥ; prīyantāmiti = prīyantām + iti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (tarpana and concluding formulas)
FAQs
It specifies the tarpana sequence: utter ‘svadhā’ for one’s Pitṛs, then pour water onto the ground; it also allows an alternative satisfaction-formula (“prīyantām”) and a parallel ‘daiva’ offering of water to the Viśve-devas.
It functions like a ritual handbook entry, preserving procedural options (mantra-phrasing and offering targets) and even noting a manuscript variant—showing the text’s practical, compendious coverage of rites alongside philological transmission.
Correct utterance of ‘svadhā’ and proper water-offering (tarpana) are intended to gratify the Pitṛs, supporting ancestral well-being and accruing merit (puṇya) for the performer through fulfilled filial and ritual duty.