Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 31
Śrāddha-kalpa-kathana
Exposition of the Śrāddha Procedure
ऐणरौरववाराहशाशैर् मांसैर् यथाक्रमं मासवृद्ध्याभितृप्यन्ति दत्तैर् एव पितामहाः
aiṇarauravavārāhaśāśair māṃsair yathākramaṃ māsavṛddhyābhitṛpyanti dattair eva pitāmahāḥ
ഏണ, രുരു-മാൻ, വരാഹം, ശശ (മുയൽ) എന്നിവയുടെ മാംസം യഥാക്രമം അർപ്പിച്ചാൽ പിതാമഹന്മാർ തൃപ്തരാകും. മാസംതോറും തൃപ്തി വർധിക്കുന്നു; അതും അതേ ദാനങ്ങളാൽ തന്നെയാണ് ക്രമേണ വർധിക്കുന്നത്.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Specifying śrāddha offerings (particular meats) and their graded efficacy across months to satisfy pitṛs/pitāmahas in a prescribed sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śrāddha-māṁsa-krama: ena–ruru–varāha–śaśa and month-by-month increase of pitṛ-tṛpti","lookup_keywords":["śrāddha meat sequence","ena ruru varāha śaśa","pitāmaha tṛpti","māsavṛddhi","pitṛ-tarpaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Offering specified meats in the stated order yields increasing ancestral satisfaction month by month; efficacy is tied to correct sequencing and proper offering."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Ritual efficacy (phala) depends on krama (order) and niyama (rule), not merely on material offering.
Application: When following a tradition that prescribes offerings, preserve the stated sequence and timing; treat śrāddha as disciplined dharma rather than casual feeding.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and ancestral offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha altar with offerings arranged in sequence: antelope, ruru-deer, boar, hare meats symbolically represented, with a month-by-month ladder showing increasing pitṛ satisfaction; pitāmahas invoked through water and darbha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual courtyard with stylized animal emblems in four offering bowls, a vertical month-ladder motif, priest with darbha and water-pot, subdued ochres and greens, solemn ancestral ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted offering plates, four animal emblems in order, ancestral presence suggested by glowing aureoles above the altar, rich ornamentation yet reverent tone","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional composition: numbered sequence 1-4 for meats, side panel showing 'māsa-vṛddhi' as ascending bars, clear labels in Devanagari-style calligraphy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of offerings with naturalistic animal motifs, a calendar strip indicating months, refined interior with officiant and patron"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मासवृद्ध्या + अभितृप्यन्ति → मासवृद्ध्याभितृप्यन्ति; शाशैः/मांसैः/दत्तैः in text show visarga-lopa before consonant (’र्’).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 163 (pitṛ-tarpaṇa and śrāddha dravya lists)
FAQs
It specifies a Śrāddha rule: offering particular kinds of meat (antelope, ruru-deer, boar, hare) in a prescribed order produces increasing month-by-month satisfaction (tṛpti) for the paternal ancestors, especially the pitāmahas.
Alongside theology and cosmology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves detailed dharma-ritual protocols—here, a precise taxonomy of offerings and their graded results—showing its practical coverage of rites for ancestors (śrāddha) as a lived religious system.
Correctly performed ancestral offerings are presented as directly generating Pitṛ-tṛpti (ancestral contentment), which is traditionally linked with the performer’s merit (puṇya), familial well-being, and removal of ancestral-related obstacles through dharmic observance.