Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 11
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
यथालाभोपपन्नेषु रौप्येषु तु विशेषतः दत्वान्नं पृथिवीपात्रमिति पात्राभिमन्त्रणं
yathālābhopapanneṣu raupyeṣu tu viśeṣataḥ datvānnaṃ pṛthivīpātramiti pātrābhimantraṇaṃ
Dalam bejana yang diperoleh sesuai kemampuan—terutama bejana perak—setelah menaruh makanan, hendaknya ia menguduskan bejana dengan mantra: “Ini adalah bejana dari bumi (pṛthivīpātra).”
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual instructions, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance on appropriate offering vessels by means and the specific pātra-abhimantraṇa (‘pṛthivī-pātram’) used to consecrate the vessel, with a note favoring silver when possible.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Pātra-prāpti (yathālābha), raupya-pātra preference, and ‘pṛthivīpātram’ consecration","lookup_keywords":["yathālābha","raupya pātra","pātrābhimantraṇa","pṛthivīpātram","anna dāna"],"quick_summary":"Use vessels according to capacity—ideally silver—and sanctify the vessel with the ‘earth-born vessel’ formula before placing the offering."}
Concept: Dharma accommodates capacity (yathā-śakti/yathālābha) while maintaining saṃskāra through mantra; material choice supports śraddhā but does not override sincerity.
Application: If silver vessels are available, prefer them; otherwise use what is properly obtained, but always consecrate the vessel before use.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dāna & Mantra-prayoga / Ritual Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Several vessels are arranged; a prominent silver vessel is shown. The officiant places food into a vessel and recites a consecration mantra identifying it as earth-born.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: row of vessels with one shining silver bowl, yajamāna touching/gesturing over the vessel in abhimantraṇa, palm-leaf manuscript motif in background, warm tones and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate silver vessel with gold embossing highlights, food being placed, mantra-consecration gesture (right hand in mudrā), rich decorative frame and jewel-like colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional still-life emphasis—different vessels by affordability, silver highlighted; yajamāna performing pātra-abhimantraṇa; clean composition, fine detailing on metalwork.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: meticulous rendering of metal vessels and grains, courtly domestic interior, yajamāna reciting while placing food; subtle calligraphic cartouche for ‘pṛthivīpātram’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यथा+लाभ+उपपन्नेषु → यथालाभोपपन्नेषु; दत्वा+अन्नम् → दत्वान्नम्; पृथिवीपात्रम्+इति → पृथिवीपात्रमिति
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163.12 (food sanctification mantras); Agni Purana 163.9-10 (śrāddha procedural flow)
FAQs
It teaches pātrābhimantraṇa—how to ritually consecrate the offering vessel (especially silver) after placing food, using the formula “pṛthivīpātram” to sacralize the vessel in a dāna/naivedya context.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical liturgical micro-instructions—choice of vessel, suitability by means, and exact mantra-phrasing—showing the Agni Purana’s role as a handbook for ritual procedure (puja-vidhi) and dharmic practice.
Consecrating the vessel aligns the offering with purity and elemental sanctity (earth), supporting the merit (puṇya) of food-offering/dāna by ensuring the act is performed with proper ritual correctness (vidhi).