Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
एकश्चासीद् यजुर्वेदस्तं चतुर्धा व्यकल्पयत् आध्वर्यवं यजुर्भिस्तु ऋग्भिर्होत्रं तथा मुनिः
ekaścāsīd yajurvedastaṃ caturdhā vyakalpayat ādhvaryavaṃ yajurbhistu ṛgbhirhotraṃ tathā muniḥ
យជុರ್ವេដដើមមានតែមួយ; បន្ទាប់មកឥសីបានរៀបចំវាជាបួនផ្នែក៖ កិច្ចការរបស់អធ្វర్యុដោយមន្តយជុស និងកិច្ចការរបស់ហោត្រឹដោយឃាថាឋ្គ។
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic instruction in encyclopedic style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Maps Vedic corpora to ritual priestly offices (ṛtvij roles), guiding correct liturgical assignment in śrauta performance and textual study.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ritvik-functions by Veda: Adhvaryu (Yajus) and Hotṛ (Ṛk)","lookup_keywords":["Yajurveda","Adhvaryu","Hotṛ","Ṛgveda","Śrauta-yajña"],"quick_summary":"Records that Yajurveda was once one and then arranged into divisions, and specifies functional pairing: Adhvaryu operates through Yajus-formulas, Hotṛ through Ṛg-verses."}
Concept: Dharma is upheld by correct role-allocation and mantra-usage in yajña; function (karma) aligns with śruti-branch.
Application: For ritualists: ensure the correct priest recites the correct textual layer; for students: choose study focus aligned to intended ritual competency.
Khanda Section: Veda-śākhā-vibhāga (Vedic classification and ritual offices)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrauta yajña scene showing Adhvaryu handling implements and murmuring Yajus, while Hotṛ recites Ṛg from a manuscript, each in their proper station around the fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yajña-kunda central, Adhvaryu with ladle and altar-tools, Hotṛ seated with Ṛg manuscript, clear spatial stations, stylized flames, traditional costume and jewelry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted yajña fire, two principal priests with distinct attributes (ladle vs manuscript), ornate arch frame, rich textiles, embossed ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional clarity: labeled positions ‘Adhvaryu—Yajus’ and ‘Hotṛ—Ṛk’, fine linework, soft palette, ritual implements rendered precisely.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed sacrificial pavilion, priests in profile with manuscripts and utensils, attendants, vessels, and fire rendered with naturalistic detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एकः + च + आसीत् → एकश्चासीद्; यजुः + वेदः → यजुर्वेदः; ऋग्भिः + होत्रम् → ऋग्भिर्होत्रम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sections on yajña/ṛtvij and Veda-śākhā classification (same sequence)
FAQs
It identifies how Vedic ritual is operationalized through priestly offices: Yajus-mantras are used for the Adhvaryu’s procedural actions, while Ṛg-verses are used for the Hotṛ’s recitations.
By summarizing Vedic organization and the functional mapping of mantras to ritual specialists, it preserves a compact reference to śrauta-yajña mechanics alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
Correct assignment of mantras to ritual roles supports proper performance of yajña, which is traditionally held to sustain sacred order (ṛta/dharma) and yield purificatory merit (puṇya).