Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
Chapter 153 — Brahmacarya-āśrama-dharma
The Dharma of the Student Stage
वेदस्वीकरणं कृत्वा स्रायाद्वै दत्तदक्षिणः
vedasvīkaraṇaṃ kṛtvā srāyādvai dattadakṣiṇaḥ
ವೇದವನ್ನು ವಿಧಿವತ್ತಾಗಿ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿ, ನಿಯತ ದಕ್ಷಿಣೆಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ, ನಂತರ ಸಮಾಪನಕರ್ಮವಾಗಿ ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು।
Lord Agni (in dialogue to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Completion protocol for Veda-study undertaking: formal acceptance of Veda discipline, payment of dakṣiṇā to the teacher, and concluding bath as a rite-marker.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Veda Acceptance, Dakṣiṇā, and Concluding Bath (Samāvartana-like Marker)","lookup_keywords":["veda-svīkaraṇa","dakṣiṇā","snāna","guru-ṛṇa","saṃskāra"],"quick_summary":"After formally undertaking Vedic study and giving the teacher’s fee, the student performs a bath to mark completion/transition—linking learning, gratitude, and ritual closure."}
Concept: Knowledge is sanctified by saṃskāra: commitment (svīkaraṇa), reciprocity (dakṣiṇā), and purification/closure (snāna).
Application: When completing a course of study or vow, perform a clear closing act: offer gratitude/fee/service to the teacher and mark transition with a purificatory bath or simple rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic rites, dāna–dakṣiṇā, and ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A student formally accepts Vedic discipline before the guru, offers dakṣiṇā, and then proceeds to bathe as a concluding purification rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, āśrama scene with guru receiving dakṣiṇā (cloth/cow/coins) from student, palm-leaf Veda bundle present, then student at a river performing snāna, serene dawn light","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru and student with gold-highlighted Veda manuscript bundle, dakṣiṇā offering emphasized with gold, secondary panel of ritual bath with shimmering gold water accents, auspicious border motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional composition: svīkaraṇa gesture before guru, dakṣiṇā handover, then snāna at water body; ritual items labeled neatly","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet ascetic classroom, detailed textiles and manuscripts, student presenting dakṣiṇā, followed by a riverbank bathing scene with delicate landscape and calligraphy cartouche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vedasvīkaraṇaṃ → veda-svīkaraṇam; srāyādvai → srāyāt + vai; dattadakṣiṇaḥ → datta-dakṣiṇaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 153 (Veda-study and nitya-karma sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes the completion-sequence for Vedic undertaking: after formally accepting Vedic study/observance and paying dakṣiṇā, one performs the concluding bath (snāna) as ritual closure and purification.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical dharma-procedure—how rites are concluded, how teachers/officiants are compensated (dakṣiṇā), and how purification is ritually marked—showing its coverage of social-religious protocol.
Giving dakṣiṇā fulfills obligation and gratitude to the guru/ṛtvik, while the concluding bath signifies purification and proper completion (saṃskāra-samāpti), supporting merit (puṇya) and avoiding ritual deficiency (doṣa).