Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 36

Pratiṣṭhā-sāmagrī-vidhāna — Prescription of Materials and Conditions for Consecration

Devanagari script

स्नानायापाहरेत् पञ्च पञ्चगव्यामृतं तथा पिष्टनिर्मितवस्त्रादिद्रव्यं निर्मञ्जनाय च

Transliteration

snānāyāpāharet pañca pañcagavyāmṛtaṃ tathā piṣṭanirmitavastrādidravyaṃ nirmañjanāya ca

Translation

സ്നാനത്തിനായി പഞ്ചഗവ്യവും പഞ്ചഗവ്യാമൃതവും കൊണ്ടുവരണം. നിർമ്മഞ്ജനത്തിനായി (ശുദ്ധീകരണ/മർദ്ദനം) പിഷ്ടംകൊണ്ട് നിർമ്മിച്ച വസ്ത്രാദി ദ്രവ്യങ്ങളും ഒരുക്കണം.

Word by Word

• स्नानाय: for bathing
• स्नानाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for the purpose of bathing)

• अपाहरेत्: should bring
• अपाहरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + √हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should bring/collect’

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; कर्मपदस्य परिमाण (quantifier)

• पञ्च-गव्य-अमृतं: pañcagavya ‘nectar’ (mixture of five cow-products)
• पञ्च-गव्य-अमृतं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पञ्चगव्यानां अमृतम्)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक

• पिष्ट-निर्मित-वस्त्र-आदि-द्रव्यं: materials such as cloth etc. made from paste
• पिष्ट-निर्मित-वस्त्र-आदि-द्रव्यं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्मित (कृदन्त; √मा/मि) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (पिष्टेन निर्मितं वस्त्रादि यत् द्रव्यं)

• निर्मञ्जनाय: for cleansing
• निर्मञ्जनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्मञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक; √मृज् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for cleansing/rubbing off)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

Speaker

Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual bathing requisites: pañcagavya/pañcagavyāmṛta procurement and cleansing agents for nirmañjana (rubbing/ablution).","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-dravya: pañcagavya, pañcagavyāmṛta, piṣṭa-nirmita nirmañjana-dravya","lookup_keywords":["pañcagavya","pañcagavyāmṛta","snāna-vidhi","nirmañjana","piṣṭa-nirmita"],"quick_summary":"For purification-bathing, procure pañcagavya and pañcagavyāmṛta, and use paste/starch-prepared cleansing materials (cloth etc.) for rubbing and removal of impurities."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca as a prerequisite for worship—purity is operationalized through specified substances and steps.

Application: Standardize pre-puja bathing by preparing the required purifiers and cleansing implements in advance.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Snana-vidhi (Ritual Purification and Bathing Procedures)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A preparatory bathing scene: vessels containing pañcagavya and pañcagavyāmṛta are set beside paste-prepared cloth/rubbing materials for nirmañjana.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bathing pavilion, brass pots labeled pañcagavya and pañcagavyāmṛta, attendant holding paste-coated cloth for nirmañjana, stylized water ripples and lotus motifs, temple setting","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, still-life puja-bath arrangement with gold-highlighted kalashas, white paste bowl, folded cloth, conch and lamp, rich ornamental frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional tableau: stepwise layout—(1) pañcagavya pot (2) pañcagavyāmṛta pot (3) paste-prepared cloth for rubbing—fine lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature hammam-like bathing chamber, servants presenting two ewers, a bowl of paste, folded cloths, intricate tile patterns and delicate realism"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्नानायापाहरेत् = स्नानाय + अपाहरेत्; पञ्चगव्यामृतं = पञ्च + गव्य + अमृतम्; पिष्टनिर्मितवस्त्रादिद्रव्यं = पिष्ट + निर्मित + वस्त्र + आदि + द्रव्यम्.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 95 (snāna-vidhi and dravya-saṅgraha sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Pañcagavya
• Pañcagavyāmṛta
• Snāna (ritual bath)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It specifies practical requisites for ritual bathing: procuring pañcagavya/pañcagavyāmṛta and using paste-prepared cleansing materials (e.g., starch/flour-based rubbing agents and cloth) for removing impurities.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond theology, it preserves procedural details of daily/occasional purification rites—listing specific materials and their ritual function—showing the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of applied dharma and temple/household practice.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By prescribing sanctifying substances like pañcagavya and proper cleansing methods, it frames bathing as a karmically purifying act that prepares the practitioner for worship, mantra, and other sacred duties with bodily and ritual cleanliness.