Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
अन्नमादाय तृप्ताः स्थ शेषं चैवान्नमस्य च तदन्नं विकिरेद् भूमौ दद्याच्चापः सकृत् सकृत्
annamādāya tṛptāḥ stha śeṣaṃ caivānnamasya ca tadannaṃ vikired bhūmau dadyāccāpaḥ sakṛt sakṛt
અન્ન ગ્રહણ કરીને તૃપ્ત થયા પછી, તે અન્નનો શેષ ભાગ અલગ રાખવો. તે શેષ અન્ન ભૂમિ પર વિખેરવો અને જળનું અર્પણ વારંવાર કરવું.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Post-meal bali/annadāna etiquette: reserve leftovers, scatter a portion on earth for beings, and repeatedly offer water as part of pūjā-vidhi and hospitality.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ucchiṣṭa-anna-vikīraṇa and repeated water-offering after meal","lookup_keywords":["ucchiṣṭa","anna-vikīraṇa","bali","ap-pradāna","pūjā-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"After eating to satisfaction, set aside the remaining food, scatter it on the ground as a bali for beings, and offer water repeatedly as a concluding rite."}
Concept: Ritual completeness and compassion toward all beings through food and water offerings.
Application: Maintain śauca and dharma after meals by sharing remnants (bali) and water-offerings rather than wasting or discarding carelessly.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dana, Bhiksha, Bali and Annadana procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder finishing a meal, setting aside leftover rice, scattering a portion on clean earth, and repeatedly pouring small libations of water with a ladle or palm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a gṛhastha in white dhoti seated near a banana-leaf meal, offering leftover rice to the ground and pouring water repeatedly, simple domestic shrine in background, flat decorative detailing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on vessels and halo-like ornamentation around a small household deity niche, devotee scattering anna on the ground and offering water, rich reds and greens, ornate brass lota highlighted.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional clarity: sequence panels showing (1) satisfied after meal (2) setting aside leftovers (3) anna-vikīraṇa (4) repeated water offering, soft shading and muted colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic courtyard, servant holding a water pot, householder scattering rice on earth, fine textiles and utensils, birds/ants subtly approaching the scattered food, precise architectural borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: annamādāya = annam + ādāya; caivānnamasya = ca + eva + annam + asya; dadyāccāpaḥ = dadyāt + ca + āpaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (pūjā-vidhi: bali/annadāna context)
FAQs
It teaches a post-meal rite: set aside remnants, offer the leftover food as a ground-scattered bali, and make repeated water offerings (āpaḥ-pradāna) as part of daily purification and propitiation.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical household dharma—minute procedural rules for eating, offerings, and purity—showing its coverage of everyday ritual technology (puja-vidhi) in addition to larger mythic narratives.
Treating leftovers as an offering and giving water repeatedly functions as a small daily act of bali and śauca (purity), believed to reduce doṣa from consumption, cultivate gratitude, and generate merit through mindful offering rather than mere enjoyment.