Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 40 — भूपरिग्रहो नाम
Bhū-parigraha) / अर्घ्यदानविधानम् (Arghya-dāna-vidhāna
मांसौदनेन धर्मेशमेकैकस्मिन् स्थितं द्वयं गन्धर्वं द्विपदं गन्धैर् भृशं शाकुनजिह्वया
māṃsaudanena dharmeśamekaikasmin sthitaṃ dvayaṃ gandharvaṃ dvipadaṃ gandhair bhṛśaṃ śākunajihvayā
Wahai Dewa Dharma, dengan persembahan mamsaudana (nasi dimasak dengan daging), pada tiap penempatan hendaknya diletakkan dua bagian: satu bagi Gandharva dan satu bagi makhluk berkaki dua. Keduanya diberi wewangian kuat dan dipersembahkan dengan tata ‘śākuna-jihvā’.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Bali/naivedya placement rules for propitiating specific classes of beings (Gandharvas, birds/‘two-footed’), including scenting and the correct implement/arrangement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bali with māṃsodana for Gandharva and dvipada; gandha-scenting and śākuna-jihvā","lookup_keywords":["māṃsodana","gandharva-bali","dvipada","gandha","śākuna-jihvā"],"quick_summary":"Offer meat-cooked rice in paired portions per placement—one for Gandharva and one for the dvipada—strongly perfumed, using the prescribed ‘bird-tongue’ arrangement/implement."}
Concept: Ritual reciprocity: specific beings are satisfied by specific substances, measures, and sensory qualifiers (gandha).
Application: Follow exact offering-substance and placement pairing to avert disturbance from intermediary beings and maintain ritual purity.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Dharmashastra (Offerings, bali and propitiatory rites involving beings such as Gandharvas and birds)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual bali-diagram with two small portions of meat-cooked rice set at a marked spot, heavily perfumed; a priest holds or indicates a ‘bird-tongue’ shaped implement/arrangement while invoking Gandharvas and bird-like beings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, priest in white mundu near a bali-peetha, two leaf-bowls of māṃsodana, incense and flower-garlands, subtle Gandharva figures in the background, earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central bali-peetha with gold-leaf highlights, two ornate offering bowls, stylized Gandharvas with veena, rich textiles, strong fragrance motifs (incense curls), devotional ritual setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout showing paired portions labeled ‘Gandharva’ and ‘Dvipada’, priest demonstrating the śākuna-jihvā implement, clean lines, soft shading, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly priest performing bali on a patterned floor, tiny labeled offering plates, delicate incense smoke, marginal Gandharvas in the sky, fine detail and architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धर्मेशम् + एकैकस्मिन् → धर्मेशमेकैकस्मिन्; गन्धैः + भृशम् → गन्धैर् भृशम्; शाकुन + जिह्वया → शाकुनजिह्वया; मांस + औदनेन → मांसौदनेन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 40 (bali/pretakalpa sequence); Agni Purana sections on puja-vidhi and naivedya/bali arrangements
FAQs
It prescribes a bali/naivedya procedure: using māṃsa-odana, place two portions in each designated spot—one directed to a Gandharva and one to a ‘dvipada’ recipient—perfumed heavily with gandha, using the specified ‘śākuna-jihvā’ mode/implement of offering.
Beyond theology, it gives operational ritual minutiae—food type, portioning, target beings (Gandharvas), and sensory ritual elements (fragrance, specific offering implement/term)—showing the text’s catalog-like coverage of applied dharma and rite-craft.
Correctly directed and properly prepared offerings are presented as a means to maintain ritual order (dharma), appease intermediary beings, and avert inauspicious influences—thereby supporting purity, protection, and merit through disciplined observance.