Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 16
Chapter 326 — देवालयमाहात्म्यम्
The Glory of Temples
भक्त्या वित्तानुसारेण कुर्यात् प्रसादसञ्चयम् अल्पे महति वा तुल्यफलमाढ्यदरिद्रयोः
bhaktyā vittānusāreṇa kuryāt prasādasañcayam alpe mahati vā tulyaphalamāḍhyadaridrayoḥ
ભક્તિપૂર્વક પોતાની ક્ષમતા મુજબ પ્રસાદ-અર્પણનો સંગ્રહ કરવો. દાન નાનું હોય કે મોટું—ધનવાન અને ગરીબ બંનેને ફળ સમાન મળે છે.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vashistha, per the common Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guiding equitable religious giving: encourage offerings proportional to capacity, emphasizing bhakti over quantity to prevent discouragement of the poor and pride of the rich.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bhakti-Based Dana: Equal Fruit for Small and Great Gifts","lookup_keywords":["bhakti","dāna","vittānusāra","tulya-phala","āḍhya-daridra"],"quick_summary":"Offerings should be made with devotion according to one’s means; the merit is taught as equal for rich and poor when the inner intention is sincere."}
Alamkara Type: Sāmya (equivalence) / Antithesis (āḍhya vs daridra)
Concept: Bhāva-prādhānya: inner devotion outweighs material magnitude; dharma is accessible to all regardless of wealth.
Application: Set a sustainable giving rule (daily/weekly) tied to income; give without debt or show; cultivate gratitude and sincerity during offering.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dana, Bhakti, and Punya—rules of devotional offering and merit)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Karuṇā
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two devotees—one wealthy, one poor—offer different-sized gifts at a shrine; the deity’s grace is shown as equal, highlighting devotion over quantity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symmetrical composition: rich donor with ornate tray and poor devotee with a small flower; both before a sanctum lamp; deity’s blessing rays equally touching both; earthy tones, moral clarity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf sanctum with deity; two donors at sides—one with abundant offerings, one with a single coin/flower—both receiving identical golden prabhā; ornate jewelry and embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic scene: labeled ‘āḍhya’ and ‘daridra’ figures offering proportionate gifts; calm faces, emphasis on bhakti gesture (añjali), clean instructional layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, marketplace-temple edge: a merchant gives a purse, a laborer gives a small handful of grains; priest accepts both with equal respect; fine detail, humane tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वित्तानुसारेण = वित्त-अनुसारेण (अव्ययीभाव); प्रसादसञ्चयम् = प्रसाद-सञ्चयम्; तुल्यफलमाढ्यदरिद्रयोः = तुल्य-फलम् + आढ्य-दरिद्रयोः (म् + आ → मा)
Related Themes: Agni Purana dāna-vidhi and phala discussions; Agni Purana bhakti and pūjā sections emphasizing bhāva
FAQs
It teaches dana-vidhi: offerings should be made with bhakti and according to one’s capacity; the ritual efficacy is measured by devotion rather than monetary magnitude.
Alongside topics like rites, law, and practical disciplines, it codifies a social-ritual principle of charity—standardizing worship ethics for different economic classes.
It emphasizes intention (bhakti) as the primary determinant of punya, affirming that sincere small gifts can yield the same spiritual fruit as large gifts.