Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 5
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
ऋगिन्द्रशोभनं प्रास्यां युजुर्यमसुभद्रकम् सामापश् च सुधन्वाख्यं सोमाथर्वसुहोत्रकम्
ṛgindraśobhanaṃ prāsyāṃ yujuryamasubhadrakam sāmāpaś ca sudhanvākhyaṃ somātharvasuhotrakam
കിഴക്കുദിക്കിൽ ഋഗ്വേദം ‘ഇന്ദ്രശോഭന’ എന്നും, യജുർവേദം ‘യമസുഭദ്രക’ എന്നും, സാമവേദം ‘സുധന്വാ’ എന്നും, സോമപരമ്പരയോടുകൂടിയ അഥർവവേദം ‘സുഹോത്രക’ എന്നും പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്.
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic encyclopedic classifications to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional naming/identification of Vedas for ritual mapping: assign specific epithets of Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva (with Soma tradition) to the eastern quarter scheme for invocation and placement in pūjā/maṇḍala contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dik-nāma of the Vedas: Indraśobhana, Yamasu-bhadraka, Sudhanvan, Suhotraka","lookup_keywords":["veda nāma","indraśobhana","sudhanvan","suhotraka","dik-vinyāsa"],"quick_summary":"The verse provides a quarter-based nomenclature for the Vedas—useful for ritual orientation, maṇḍala mapping, and invoking Vedic powers as directional presences."}
Concept: Nirukti-like naming and classification: sacred knowledge organized through names, directions, and functional placement.
Application: Use these epithets as labels in maṇḍalas, altar diagrams, or recitation sequences when a rite requires Veda-dik-nyāsa.
Khanda Section: Veda-nama-nirukti / Vedic classification (Encyclopedic listing of sacred branches)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram showing the four directions with the Vedas written as personified scrolls or sound-streams; the east labeled Ṛg as Indraśobhana, and other quarters labeled with Yajur, Sāma, Atharva/Soma epithets.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: circular mandala with four quarters, stylized palm-leaf manuscripts in each direction, bold labels Indraśobhana etc., minimal figures, emphasis on sacred geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: four Vedas as ornate manuscripts with gold halos placed around a central lotus, directional markers, gold foil borders, rich jewel palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional mandala with compass-like directions, calligraphic labels for each Veda-name, soft shading, precise symmetry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholar-priest presenting a directional chart with four labeled manuscripts, fine calligraphy, patterned margins, courtly setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऋगिन्द्रशोभनं = ऋक् + इन्द्र + शोभनम्; युजुर्यमसुभद्रकम् = यजुः + यम + सुभद्रकम्; सामापश् = साम + आपः; सुधन्वाख्यं = सुधन्व + आख्यम्; सोमाथर्वसुहोत्रकम् = सोम + अथर्व + सुहोत्रकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Veda-nāma/nirukti and dik-nyāsa related lists in the same chapter cluster; mantra-nyāsa sections where such names function as placements.
FAQs
It transmits a classificatory vidyā: the traditional epithets (nāma/ākhyā) of the four Vedas as associated with the eastern direction, useful for cataloging śākhās and ritual lineages.
Rather than narrating mythology alone, it records structured reference-data—names and identifiers of Vedic traditions—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium-style coverage of śāstra, ritual taxonomy, and sacred learning.
Remembering and correctly identifying Vedic traditions is treated as a form of dharma-protection: it supports accurate ritual performance and preserves sacred transmission, which is traditionally linked with purification (śuddhi) and merit (puṇya).