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Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 22

Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana

Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure

प्रदक्षिणमनुब्रज्य भक्त्वा तु पितृसेवितं ब्रह्मचारी भवेत्तान्तु रजनीं ब्राह्मणैः सह

pradakṣiṇamanubrajya bhaktvā tu pitṛsevitaṃ brahmacārī bhavettāntu rajanīṃ brāhmaṇaiḥ saha

彼らに従ってプラダクシナー(右繞の恭敬)を行い、祖霊に奉仕して供えられた食を口にしたのち、梵行者(ブラフマチャーリー)として禁欲を守るべきである。またその夜はブラーフマナたちと共に宿すべし。

प्रदक्षिणम्clockwise/circumambulating
प्रदक्षिणम्:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया (adverbial accusative): ‘प्रदक्षिणं’
अनुब्रज्यhaving followed
अनुब्रज्य:
Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
TypeVerb
Rootअनु+व्रज् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), √व्रज् (to go/follow)
भक्त्वाhaving eaten/partaken
भक्त्वा:
Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
TypeVerb
Rootभज् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), √भज् (to partake/serve)
तुthen/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअन्वयबोधक-अव्यय (particle)
पितृ-सेवितम्(food) served/used for the ancestors
पितृ-सेवितम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeAdjective
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √सेव्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पितृभिः सेवितम्)
ब्रह्मचारीa celibate/student
ब्रह्मचारी:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
भवेत्should be/become
भवेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
तान्them
तान्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन
तुand/then
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअन्वयबोधक-अव्यय (particle)
रजनीम्the night
रजनीम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootरजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
ब्राह्मणैःwith brahmins
ब्राह्मणैः:
Sahakaraka (सहकारक/with)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन
सहtogether with
सह:
Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह (अव्यय)
Formसहार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: with)

Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Post-śrāddha conduct: accompany with pradakṣiṇā, partake of the pitṛ-offered food as prescribed, observe brahmacarya for the night, and lodge with brāhmaṇas (or remain in their company) as a discipline of purity.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Post-Śrāddha observances: pradakṣiṇā, pitṛ-sevita-bhojana, and brahmacarya for the night","lookup_keywords":["pradakṣiṇā","pitṛ-sevita","bhojana","brahmacarya","rātri-vrata"],"quick_summary":"After concluding śrāddha, one performs reverential circumambulation, eats the sanctioned remainder connected with Pitṛ service, and maintains celibate restraint and disciplined conduct through the night in the brāhmaṇas’ presence."}

Concept: Ritual is completed by ethical/behavioral sealing: bodily restraint (brahmacarya) and respectful accompaniment (pradakṣiṇā) preserve the rite’s sanctity.

Application: Treat the post-rite period as a mini-vrata: avoid indulgence, keep speech and senses restrained, and remain in sāttvika company.

Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-kriyā and post-rite observances)

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The performer respectfully circumambulates and accompanies the brāhmaṇas, then eats the sanctioned offering; night scene shows him observing restraint and staying in a simple lodging with brāhmaṇas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, procession-like pradakṣiṇā around a ritual space, brāhmaṇas walking, performer following with folded hands, later a night interior with oil lamp, calm seated figures, subdued palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, circumambulation around a decorated ritual area, gold detailing on lamps and vessels, later a serene night tableau with brāhmaṇas seated, emphasis on auspicious discipline.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, two-panel instructional scene: (1) pradakṣiṇā following brāhmaṇas, (2) night observance of brahmacarya with simple bedding and lamp, fine lines and gentle colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard walk with attendants, then an evening chamber with lamp-lit gathering, detailed textiles, quiet gestures indicating restraint and decorum."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"observance","suggested_raga":"Kalyāṇi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रदक्षिणमनुब्रज्य = प्रदक्षिणम् + अनुब्रज्य; भवेत्तान्तु = भवेत् + तान् + तु.

Related Themes: Agni Purana: rules of śrāddha-bhojana and śeṣa (remainders); Agni Purana: vrata-lakṣaṇa and brahmacarya observances

P
Pitṛs (ancestors)
B
Brāhmaṇas
B
Brahmacarya

FAQs

It prescribes post-Śrāddha conduct: escorting with pradakṣiṇā, partaking of the Pitṛ-offering (as prasāda of the rite), maintaining brahmacarya, and spending the night in the company/presence of brāhmaṇas as a discipline of ritual purity.

Beyond theology, it records procedural dharma—minute rules of conduct after ancestral rites—showing the text’s coverage of practical ritual law (ācāra), purity observances, and social-religious protocol involving brāhmaṇas.

The restraint of brahmacarya and association with brāhmaṇas after Pitṛ-service is framed as safeguarding the rite’s purity and merit, stabilizing the spiritual fruit of honoring ancestors and preventing ritual leakage through indulgence or impurity.