Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 31
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
ऐणरौरववाराहशाशैर् मांसैर् यथाक्रमं मासवृद्ध्याभितृप्यन्ति दत्तैर् एव पितामहाः
aiṇarauravavārāhaśāśair māṃsair yathākramaṃ māsavṛddhyābhitṛpyanti dattair eva pitāmahāḥ
એણ, રુરુ, વરાહ અને શશ (સસલું)ના માંસને યથાક્રમે અર્પણ કરવાથી પિતામહો તૃપ્ત થાય છે. મહિને મહિને તૃપ્તિ વધે છે, અને તે એ જ દાનો દ્વારા ક્રમે વધતી જાય છે.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Specifying śrāddha offerings (particular meats) and their graded efficacy across months to satisfy pitṛs/pitāmahas in a prescribed sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śrāddha-māṁsa-krama: ena–ruru–varāha–śaśa and month-by-month increase of pitṛ-tṛpti","lookup_keywords":["śrāddha meat sequence","ena ruru varāha śaśa","pitāmaha tṛpti","māsavṛddhi","pitṛ-tarpaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Offering specified meats in the stated order yields increasing ancestral satisfaction month by month; efficacy is tied to correct sequencing and proper offering."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Ritual efficacy (phala) depends on krama (order) and niyama (rule), not merely on material offering.
Application: When following a tradition that prescribes offerings, preserve the stated sequence and timing; treat śrāddha as disciplined dharma rather than casual feeding.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and ancestral offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha altar with offerings arranged in sequence: antelope, ruru-deer, boar, hare meats symbolically represented, with a month-by-month ladder showing increasing pitṛ satisfaction; pitāmahas invoked through water and darbha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual courtyard with stylized animal emblems in four offering bowls, a vertical month-ladder motif, priest with darbha and water-pot, subdued ochres and greens, solemn ancestral ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted offering plates, four animal emblems in order, ancestral presence suggested by glowing aureoles above the altar, rich ornamentation yet reverent tone","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional composition: numbered sequence 1-4 for meats, side panel showing 'māsa-vṛddhi' as ascending bars, clear labels in Devanagari-style calligraphy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of offerings with naturalistic animal motifs, a calendar strip indicating months, refined interior with officiant and patron"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मासवृद्ध्या + अभितृप्यन्ति → मासवृद्ध्याभितृप्यन्ति; शाशैः/मांसैः/दत्तैः in text show visarga-lopa before consonant (’र्’).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (pitṛ-tarpaṇa and śrāddha dravya lists)
FAQs
It specifies a Śrāddha rule: offering particular kinds of meat (antelope, ruru-deer, boar, hare) in a prescribed order produces increasing month-by-month satisfaction (tṛpti) for the paternal ancestors, especially the pitāmahas.
Alongside theology and cosmology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves detailed dharma-ritual protocols—here, a precise taxonomy of offerings and their graded results—showing its practical coverage of rites for ancestors (śrāddha) as a lived religious system.
Correctly performed ancestral offerings are presented as directly generating Pitṛ-tṛpti (ancestral contentment), which is traditionally linked with the performer’s merit (puṇya), familial well-being, and removal of ancestral-related obstacles through dharmic observance.