Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 39
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
घनं विद्यां भिषकसिद्धिं रूप्यं गाश्चाप्यजाविकं अश्वानायुश् च विधिवत् यः श्राद्धं सम्प्रयच्छति
ghanaṃ vidyāṃ bhiṣakasiddhiṃ rūpyaṃ gāścāpyajāvikaṃ aśvānāyuś ca vidhivat yaḥ śrāddhaṃ samprayacchati
ಯಾರು ವಿಧಿವತ್ತಾಗಿ ಶ್ರಾದ್ಧವನ್ನು ಸಮರ್ಪಿಸುತ್ತಾನೋ, ಅವನು ಘನವಾದ ಧನ, ವಿದ್ಯೆ, ವೈದ್ಯಸಿದ್ಧಿ, ಬೆಳ್ಳಿ, ಹಸುಗಳು, ಮೇಕೆ-ಕುರಿಗಳು, ಕುದುರೆಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ದೀರ್ಘಾಯುಷ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guides what kinds of dāna (gifts) and ritual performance in śrāddha are believed to yield specific worldly and life-enhancing results, motivating correct observance and charitable giving.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śrāddha-phala (Fruits of śrāddha and dāna)","lookup_keywords":["śrāddha-phala","dāna","pitṛ","āyuḥ","vidyā"],"quick_summary":"Properly performed śrāddha is taught to generate concrete benefits—wealth, learning, medical success, livestock, horses, and longevity—linking ritual charity with social prosperity."}
Concept: Pitṛ-yajña/śrāddha as a dharmic act whose merit ripens into both material and life-supporting outcomes.
Application: Encourages householders to maintain ancestral rites and structured charity as part of gṛhastha-dharma.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Ancestral rites and ritual gifting)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder performs śrāddha with brāhmaṇas seated, offering piṇḍa and water, while gifts—silver, cows, goats, sheep, horses—are arranged as dāna; ancestors are implied as receiving satisfaction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, śrāddha scene with gṛhastha in white dhoti offering piṇḍa and tila-water to brāhmaṇas, symbolic pitṛs in subtle haloed forms above, cows and silver vessels depicted, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central gṛhastha performing śrāddha before brāhmaṇas, ornate gold-leaf highlights on silver vessels and ritual plates, cows and horses at the sides, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional śrāddha setup: piṇḍa on leaf plates, kuśa grass, water pot, dāna items labeled visually (silver, cows, goats), calm domestic courtyard","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard scene with attendants bringing cows and horses as gifts, brāhmaṇas seated on carpets, the patron offering piṇḍa, fine architectural background, delicate flora borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गाश्चाप्यजाविकम् → गाः च अपि अजाविकम्; अश्वानायुश् च → अश्वान् आयुः च (visarga before ca); भिषकसिद्धिम् → भिषक्-सिद्धिम् (compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (Śrāddha-kalpa context); Agni Purana 164 (transition to graha-śānti rites)
FAQs
It teaches the Śrāddha principle of vidhivat (rule-governed) performance and indicates the specific fruits (phala) promised—wealth, learning, medical success, livestock, horses, and longevity—when the rite is properly offered.
By cataloging concrete outcomes tied to a defined rite, it functions like a ritual manual (dharma-śāstra style) embedded within the Purāṇa—linking household economy (silver, cattle), professional success (medicine), and lifespan to liturgical correctness.
It frames Śrāddha as a merit-producing act whose karmic return supports both worldly welfare (artha, status, resources) and vital well-being (āyuḥ), emphasizing faith-based ancestral duty as a purifier and sustainer of lineage.