Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 20
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
पठन्नाग्नेयकं नित्यं शृण्वन् वापि पुराणकं भक्तो वशिष्ठ मनुजः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
paṭhannāgneyakaṃ nityaṃ śṛṇvan vāpi purāṇakaṃ bhakto vaśiṣṭha manujaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate
ಹೇ ವಸಿಷ್ಠಾ! ಭಕ್ತನಾದ ಮನುಷ್ಯನು ನಿತ್ಯವೂ ಆಗ್ನೇಯ (ಅಗ್ನಿ) ಪುರಾಣವನ್ನು ಪಠಿಸಿದರೂ ಅಥವಾ ಅದನ್ನು ಶ್ರವಣ ಮಾಡಿದರೂ, ಅವನು ಸರ್ವ ಪಾಪಗಳಿಂದ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಮುಕ್ತನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ।
Lord Agni (narrator) addressing Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Daily pāṭha/śravaṇa (recitation/listening) as a nitya-kriyā for pāpa-kṣaya and inner purification; organizing household or temple reading sessions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Agni Purāṇa pāṭha-śravaṇa pāpa-kṣaya-phala","lookup_keywords":["Agneya Purana","pāṭha","śravaṇa","pāpa-kṣaya","bhakti"],"quick_summary":"Regular recitation or even attentive listening to the Agni Purāṇa, when done with devotion, is taught as a direct means for removal of sins and moral-ritual purification."}
Concept: Śravaṇa and pāṭha as purificatory sādhanā; bhakti-yukta engagement with śāstra leads to pāpa-kṣaya.
Application: Set a daily quota (one adhyāya/section), listen with attention (ekāgratā), and conclude with saṅkalpa for ethical conduct (ācāra) to stabilize the ‘pāpa-kṣaya’ intent.
Khanda Section: Purana-śravaṇa-phala (Merit of recitation and listening; Agni Purana Mahatmya / Phala-śruti)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devoted householder sits near a sacred manuscript of the Agni Purāṇa while a reciter chants; Vasiṣṭha is invoked as the addressed sage; the atmosphere is calm and purifying.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a seated paurāṇika reciting from palm-leaf manuscript, attentive devotees with añjali, subtle aura of purification, traditional architecture hints, flat stylized forms","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central sacred manuscript on a low pedestal with gold leaf highlights, devotee and reciter in rich textiles, halo-like ornamentation suggesting pāpa-kṣaya, temple lamp and lotus motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, instructional scene of daily pāṭha: reciter pointing to manuscript, listener seated respectfully, minimal background with puja items, soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor mehfil-like reading of a Sanskrit text, detailed carpet and bookstand, calm faces, fine borders, subtle symbolic light around the manuscript"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पठन् + आग्नेयकम् → पठन्नाग्नेयकम्; शृण्वन् + वा + अपि → शृण्वन् वापि; सर्व + पापैः → सर्वपापैः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 382 (phala-śruti/mahatmya section)
FAQs
It teaches the practical sādhana of Purāṇa-pāṭha and Purāṇa-śravaṇa: regular recitation or attentive listening to the Agni Purāṇa as a devotional discipline.
By prescribing an accessible entry-point—reading or hearing—the text frames its wide-ranging subjects (ritual, dharma, polity, arts, etc.) as spiritually efficacious when approached with devotion, making the entire compendium a unified practice.
With faith (bhakti), sustained engagement with the Agni Purāṇa through recitation or listening is said to purify accumulated pāpa (sin/negative karma) and bring moral-spiritual cleansing.