Prāyaścitta for Theft, Forbidden Foods, Impurity, and Ritual Lapses; Tīrtha–Vrata Remedies; Pativratā Mahātmyam via Sītā and Agni
प्रपद्ये शरणं वह्निं ब्रह्मण्यं ब्रह्मरूपिणम् / भूतेशं कृत्तिवसनं शरण्यं परमं पदम्
prapadye śaraṇaṃ vahniṃ brahmaṇyaṃ brahmarūpiṇam / bhūteśaṃ kṛttivasanaṃ śaraṇyaṃ paramaṃ padam
我は帰依する、ヴァフニなるアグニ—聖なる火—梵に仕え、梵そのものの姿を成す者に。衆生の主、皮衣をまとう者、至上の帰依処にして、最高の境地・住処なるものに。
A devotee/supplicant voice within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-leaning devotional frame (stuti), invoking Agni with Īśvara/Rudra attributes.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
By calling Agni “brahmarūpin” (Brahman-formed) and “paramaṃ padam” (the highest state), the verse points to the non-dual reality where the ultimate refuge is Brahman itself—realized as the supreme goal beyond ordinary identity.
The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (surrender) and contemplation of the inner sacred fire (Agni) as a symbol of awakened consciousness—supporting meditative absorption where the deity is recognized as Brahman, a key move in Purāṇic yoga and Pāśupata-oriented devotion.
Agni is praised with Brahman-identification and with Rudra-like epithets (Bhūteśa, skin-garment), reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the supreme refuge is one Reality, expressed through multiple divine forms honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions.