Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 7
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
मार्गे या देवतास्तासान्नद्यादीनाञ्च पूजनं दिव्यान्तरीक्षभौमस्थदेवानाञ्च तथा बलिः
mārge yā devatāstāsānnadyādīnāñca pūjanaṃ divyāntarīkṣabhaumasthadevānāñca tathā baliḥ
ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಎದುರಾಗುವ ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನೂ, ನದಿಗಳಾದಿಗಳನ್ನೂ ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಸ್ವರ್ಗ, ಅಂತರಿಕ್ಷ ಮತ್ತು ಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿರುವ ದೇವತೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಲಿಯನ್ನು ಅರ್ಪಿಸಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse, traditionally narrated to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Travel-rite protocol: honor roadside deities and natural thresholds (rivers), and offer bali to beings of the three realms to secure safe passage and avert obstacles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yātrā-mārga devatā-pūjā and trailokya-bali","lookup_keywords":["yātrā-vidhi","mārga-devatā","nadī-pūjā","divyāntarīkṣa-bhauma","bali-offering"],"quick_summary":"Before and during travel, worship local/road deities and river-spirits; additionally give bali to celestial, atmospheric, and terrestrial beings to harmonize the journey with all realms."}
Concept: Reciprocity with the seen and unseen ecology (adhidaivika): acknowledging local powers and the three worlds reduces friction (vighna) in undertakings.
Application: Adopt respectful conduct on journeys—offer simple bali (food/flowers/water), pause at rivers for salutations, and maintain non-harm to avoid ritual and social transgression.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yatra-marga-devata-bali-puja / Travel rites and offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler and priest stop along a road near a river; they offer flowers and food portions as bali to beings of sky, mid-air, and earth, with subtle depiction of unseen presences.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: winding road, stylized river with lotus motifs, traveler with bundle, priest offering bali on leaf-plates; faint celestial and atmospheric figures above, earthy yakṣa-like forms below, flat iconic layering of three realms.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: riverbank scene with gold-highlighted water ripples, offerings on brass plate, three-tier composition (heaven/mid/earth) with small gold halos for realm-deities, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear narrative travel rite, gentle landscape, labeled bali placements (ground, raised stand, upward gesture), fine linework and subdued colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: caravan pause at a ford, attendants and pack animals, priest making offerings; translucent atmospheric beings painted delicately in the sky band, detailed flora and river texture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Pahadi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवतास्तासाम् = देवताः + तासाम्; तासान्नद्यादीनाम् = तासाम् + नदीआदीनाम् (अनुस्वार/नकारादेश); दिव्यान्तरीक्षभौमस्थदेवानाम् = दिव्य + अन्तरीक्ष + भौम + स्थ + देवानाम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana bali-vidhi passages (elsewhere); Agni Purana śānti and vighna-nāśa contexts (elsewhere)
FAQs
It teaches yātrā-vidhi: during travel, one should perform pūjā to deities encountered en route and to rivers/sacred waters, and give bali offerings to gods of the three cosmic domains (heaven, mid-air, earth).
It preserves practical dharmic procedure for everyday life—journey conduct, sacred geography (rivers and crossings), and standardized offering categories—showing the text’s coverage beyond mythology into applied ritual law.
Honouring local and cosmic deities while travelling is presented as a protective and purificatory practice, reducing obstacles and accruing merit by maintaining reverence toward sacred places and unseen divine agencies.