Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 166: वर्णधर्मादिकथनं
Exposition of Varṇa-Dharma and Related Topics
विशेषदृष्ट एवासौ फलार्थ इति मानवाः स्यादष्टचत्वारिंशद्भिः संस्कारैर् ब्रह्मलोकगः
viśeṣadṛṣṭa evāsau phalārtha iti mānavāḥ syādaṣṭacatvāriṃśadbhiḥ saṃskārair brahmalokagaḥ
ផលនោះពិតជាផលពិសេសដែលបានបង្ហាញដោយគម្ពីរ; ដូច្នេះ ឱ មនុស្សទាំងឡាយ ដោយសំស្ការ ៤៨ (ពិធីបរិសុទ្ធ) មនុស្សម្នាក់ក្លាយជាអ្នកទៅដល់លោកព្រហ្ម (Brahmaloka)។
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha; addressed here as 'mānavāḥ'—humankind)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Mapping life-cycle and duty-based saṃskāras to karmaphala (merit) and the promised post-mortem destination; used to justify sustained observance of purificatory rites in household life.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Aṣṭacatvāriṃśat-saṃskāra-phala: Brahmalokagamanam","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭacatvāriṃśat saṃskāra","saṃskāra phala","brahmaloka","karmaphala","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse asserts a śāstra-revealed fruit: performance of the forty-eight saṃskāras leads to Brahmaloka. It functions as an arthavāda-style motivation for sustained ritual purity and dharma."}
Concept: Śāstra-pramāṇa establishes specific karmaphala; saṃskāra as a means of adhikāra (fitness) and loka-gati.
Application: Use phala-śruti to structure a dharmic life-plan: complete prescribed saṃskāras and daily duties with continuity and purity.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Saṃskāra & Karmaphala / Ritual Purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic scene: a teacher addressing householders, with a symbolic ladder of saṃskāras leading upward to Brahmaloka, shown as a luminous realm of Brahmā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, guru in saffron teaching seated householders, symbolic steps labeled saṃskāras rising to a radiant Brahmaloka with Brahmā on lotus, rich reds and ochres, temple mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Brahmā on lotus with gold foil halo, below a small vignette of a ṛṣi instructing gṛhasthas about saṃskāras, ornate borders, jewel-like colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau with a scroll listing '48 saṃskāras', calm teacher-figure, subtle shading, delicate linework, minimal background with Brahmaloka glow above","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly didactic gathering with a learned sage presenting a manuscript, a stylized celestial register above indicating Brahmaloka, fine detailing, architectural frame"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एव+असौ→एवासौ; स्यात्+अष्ट…→स्यादष्ट… (द्-आदेशः); संस्कारैः+ब्रह्म…→संस्कारैर् ब्रह्म… (विसर्ग/र्-सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 166 (Saṃskāra enumeration and yajña lists)
FAQs
It states the ritual doctrine that performing a complete set of saṃskāras (here counted as forty-eight) is a śāstrically affirmed means to obtain a defined fruit—attainment of Brahmaloka.
By codifying saṃskāra-counts and explicitly linking ritual procedure to cosmological outcomes (Brahmaloka), it shows the Purana’s compendium-style treatment of Dharma-shastra, ritual science, and soteriology in a single continuum.
The verse frames saṃskāras as cumulative purifiers whose merit yields an elevated post-mortem destination—Brahmaloka—presented as a distinct, scripture-certified karmic result.