Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 17
Adhyaya 165 — नानाधर्माः
Various Dharmas
उपवासव्रतञ्चैव स्नानन्तीर्थं फलन्तपः द्विजसम्पादनञ्चैव सम्पन्नन्तस्य तत् फलं
upavāsavratañcaiva snānantīrthaṃ phalantapaḥ dvijasampādanañcaiva sampannantasya tat phalaṃ
उपवासव्रत, तीर्थस्नान, तपाचे फळ आणि द्विजसम्पादन (सेवा/प्रसादन)—विधिपूर्वक अनुष्ठान पूर्ण करणाऱ्यास हेच फलरूप पुण्य आहे.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Checklist of merit-producing observances: fasting, vow-keeping, tīrtha-bathing, austerity, and honoring/supporting brāhmaṇas—used to structure vrata manuals and household religious practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vrata Merit Components: Upavāsa, Tīrtha-snāna, Tapas, and Brāhmaṇa-sampādana","lookup_keywords":["upavāsa","vrata","tīrtha-snāna","tapas-phala","dvija-sampādana"],"quick_summary":"Merit is summarized as arising from fasting and vows, sacred bathing, austerity’s fruit, and proper gaining/propitiation of a brāhmaṇa—i.e., disciplined practice plus dharmic social-religious support."}
Concept: Dharma is operationalized as observance (vrata/upavāsa), purification (tīrtha-snāna), austerity (tapas), and honoring brāhmaṇas—together yielding phala (merit).
Application: Design a vrata regimen: set fasting rules, include tīrtha or ritual bath, add measured austerity, and conclude with brāhmaṇa-honoring acts (dāna, bhojana, dakṣiṇā) as appropriate.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Vrata-vidhi (Ritual vows, fasting, sacred bathing, and merit)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shraddha
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder or ascetic performing a vrata: fasting with prayer, bathing at a river tīrtha, practicing austerity, and finally honoring a brāhmaṇa with offerings—shown as a sequence of merit-bearing acts.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural narrative strip: devotee fasting with folded hands, then river bathing at tīrtha, then seated in tapas, then offering food/dakṣiṇā to a brāhmaṇa; temple-like framing and earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central tīrtha-bathing scene with gold accents on vessels and ornaments; side vignettes of upavāsa and brāhmaṇa-satkara; rich textiles, devotional clarity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step instructional composition with four panels (upavāsa, vrata, tīrtha-snāna, brāhmaṇa-sampādana), fine linework, readable ritual implements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: riverside bathing with attendants and offerings, then a respectful gifting scene to a learned brāhmaṇa, detailed architecture and landscape, calm pious mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhoopali","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: व्रतञ्चैव = व्रतम् + च + एव; सम्पादनञ्चैव = सम्पादनम् + च + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: vrata-vidhi and dāna sections; tīrtha-māhātmya style passages elsewhere in the text
FAQs
It enumerates the core merit-producing components of a dharmic observance: fasting (upavāsa), vow-keeping (vrata), sacred bathing (tīrtha-snāna), austerity (tapas), and duly securing/serving a brāhmaṇa (dvija-sampādana).
By compressing multiple dharma-practices into a single results-focused formula, it reflects the Agni Purana’s compendium style—cataloging ritual actions, their classifications, and their phala (karmic outcomes) as practical guidance.
It teaches that the spiritual ‘fruit’ arises from disciplined observance—self-restraint, purification through tīrtha-bathing, and social-sacral alignment through honoring the dvija—together generating recognized religious merit (puṇya/phala).