Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 78
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
भक्ष्यताम्वूलपुष्पाद्यं मन्त्रितन्तु प्रयच्छति यस्य धर्मज्ञ वशगः सोम्य शीघ्रं भविष्यति
bhakṣyatāmvūlapuṣpādyaṃ mantritantu prayacchati yasya dharmajña vaśagaḥ somya śīghraṃ bhaviṣyati
しかし、根や花などの食し得るものを真言で加持して相手に与えるなら、やさしき者よ、法（ダルマ）を知る者よ、その人は速やかに与える者の影響下に入る。
Lord Agni (in instruction to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Influence operation through consecrated gifts (edibles like roots/flowers): a counsel on soft power, persuasion, and gaining compliance without force.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mantra-consecrated gifts for gaining influence (Vaśyatā by dāna)","lookup_keywords":["mantrita-bhakṣya","dāna","vaśya","mūla-puṣpa","nīti"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate edible offerings with mantras and give them to the target; the person is said to come quickly under the giver’s influence."}
Concept: Upāya (means) in governance/social dealings: influence can be achieved through gifts combined with ritual intention (mantra-saṃskāra).
Application: Prefer conciliatory methods (dāna, saṃskāra) to secure cooperation; ethically, apply within dharma (as the verse addresses a dharma-knower).
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, counsel, and methods of influence)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A counselor or ritualist consecrates edible items (roots, flowers, etc.) with mantra and offers them to a person to win goodwill and compliance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, calm court or household setting, mantrin blessing a tray of roots and flowers, recipient accepting respectfully, warm lamp-lit palette, symbolic lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, offering tray with roots/flowers rendered richly, gold foil on vessels, giver and recipient in dignified poses, auspicious borders and temple-lamp elements.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: mantra-recitation over offerings, then handover; delicate lines, muted colors, emphasis on objects and sequence of action.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined gift-giving scene in a garden pavilion, detailed flora, tray of offerings, subtle depiction of whispered mantra, elegant garments and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भक्ष्यताम्वूलपुष्पाद्यं = भक्ष्यताम् + मूलपुष्पाद्यम्; मन्त्रितन्तु = मन्त्रितम् + तु
Related Themes: Agni Purana 259 (nīti-linked mantra prayogas)
FAQs
It teaches a mantra-prayoga: consecrate edible offerings (roots, flowers, etc.) with mantras and give them, as a practical means of quickly winning another person’s compliance or goodwill.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied Niti/Rajadharma material—methods of persuasion, counsel, and pragmatic techniques—showing its wide coverage of governance and operational know-how.
The act combines dāna (giving) with mantra-siddhi (consecration). Framed within dharma, it implies that disciplined, ritually ordered action can produce swift worldly outcomes, though its ethical use is bounded by dharmic intent.