Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
Chapter 171 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Prāyaścittāni / Expiations
श्रीकामः पुष्टिकामश् च स्वर्गकामो ऽघनष्टये देवताराधनपरः कृच्छ्रकारी स सर्वभाक्
śrīkāmaḥ puṣṭikāmaś ca svargakāmo 'ghanaṣṭaye devatārādhanaparaḥ kṛcchrakārī sa sarvabhāk
ശ്രീ (സമൃദ്ധി) ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവനും, പുഷ്ടി-ബലം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവനും, സ്വർഗ്ഗം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവനും—പാപനാശത്തിനായി—ദേവാരാധനയിൽ നിരതനായിരിക്കണം; കൃച്ഛ്രതപസ്സു ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ സർവ്വഫല/പുണ്യങ്ങളുടെ ഭാഗഭാക്കാകുന്നു.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual and expiation instructions to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Undertake deity-worship with kṛcchra austerity to seek prosperity, strength, heaven, and sin-destruction, framing goals within dharmic discipline.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Devatārādhana with Kṛcchra for Śrī–Puṣṭi–Svarga and Agha-nāśa","lookup_keywords":["devataradhana","krcchra","shrikama","pustikama","svargakama"],"quick_summary":"For prosperity, nourishment/strength, and heavenly merit—along with removal of sin—one should worship the deities and perform kṛcchra austerity, becoming entitled to the stated fruits."}
Concept: Desires are to be pursued through disciplined worship and austerity, converting kāma into dharma-aligned effort.
Application: When seeking worldly or otherworldly aims, add structured restraint (kṛcchra) and regular worship to prevent indulgence and cultivate merit.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devatārādhanavidhi (Ritual worship and expiatory observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performing deity-worship with austerity—simple altar, offerings, restrained posture—symbolically receiving prosperity, strength, and heavenly merit while sins dissolve.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devotee before a small shrine with lamps and flowers, austere setting, subtle divine radiance indicating śrī and puṣṭi, calm devotional restraint.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented deity panel with gold work, devotee in humble posture performing ārādhana, symbolic motifs of Lakṣmī (śrī) and abundance (puṣṭi) around the frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of kṛcchra austerity alongside worship: minimal food bowl, prayer beads, altar items neatly arranged, clear narrative sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet restrained worship scene, devotee with simple offerings, ethereal haloed figures representing desired fruits, delicate architectural interior."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svargakāmaḥ aghanaṣṭaye → svargakāmo 'ghanaṣṭaye (o + a); puṣṭikāmaḥ ca → puṣṭikāmaś ca; sarvabhāk is sandhi form of sarva-bhāk.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 171 (kṛcchra/prāyaścitta rules); Agni Purana 172-173 (transition to sarvapāpa-prāyaścitta; stuti as expiation)
FAQs
It prescribes devatārādhana (systematic deity-worship) together with kṛcchra (a formal expiatory austerity) as a practical means to obtain prosperity, nourishment, and heaven, while specifically aiming at agha-naṣṭi (sin-destruction).
It exemplifies the Purana’s procedural coverage of dharma: not only stating spiritual goals (śrī, puṣṭi, svarga) but also linking them to concrete ritual technologies—ārādhana (worship protocols) and prāyaścitta categories like kṛcchra—showing its handbook-like scope.
The verse frames worship plus disciplined penance as a karmic purifier: by removing agha (sin/impurity), the practitioner becomes eligible to “partake of all” meritorious results—worldly well-being and higher post-mortem attainments.