Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 1
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अथर्वविधानं नामैकषष्ट्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः क्रुद्धं भूपं प्रसादयेदिति घ , ज , झ च अथ द्विषष्ठ्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः उत्पातशान्तिः पुष्कर उवाच श्रीसूक्तं प्रतिवेदञ्च ज्ञेयं लक्ष्मीविवर्धनं हिरण्यवर्णा हरिणीमृचः पञ्चदश श्रियः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe atharvavidhānaṃ nāmaikaṣaṣṭyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ kruddhaṃ bhūpaṃ prasādayediti gha , ja , jha ca atha dviṣaṣṭhyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ utpātaśāntiḥ puṣkara uvāca śrīsūktaṃ prativedañca jñeyaṃ lakṣmīvivardhanaṃ hiraṇyavarṇā hariṇīmṛcaḥ pañcadaśa śriyaḥ
अग्नि महापुराणातील ‘अथर्वविधान’ नावाचा २६१वा अध्याय (तसेच ‘क्रुद्ध राजाला प्रसन्न करावे’—घ, ज, झ अशी चिन्हांकित खंडे) असा आहे. आता २६२वा अध्याय ‘उत्पातशांती’ सुरू होतो. पुष्कर म्हणाले—श्रीसूक्त व प्रतिवेद हे लक्ष्मीवर्धक जाणावे; ‘हिरण्यवर्णा’पासूनच्या पंधरा ऋचा श्रीचे सूक्त आहे।
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Utpāta-śānti and śrī-vardhana rites: using Śrīsūkta with prativeda as a prosperity-increasing and omen-pacifying recitation; also includes political-ritual appeasement of an enraged ruler.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śrīsūkta (15 ṛk ‘hiraṇyavarṇā…’) for Utpātaśānti and Lakṣmī-vivardhana","lookup_keywords":["Utpātaśānti","Śrīsūkta","hiraṇyavarṇā","prativeda","Lakṣmī-vivardhana"],"quick_summary":"Identifies Śrīsūkta—fifteen ṛks beginning ‘hiraṇyavarṇā’—as a Lakṣmī-increasing Vedic hymn, to be known/used with supplementary recitation for pacifying portents and securing prosperity."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (phonetic recurrence typical of Vedic stuti)
Concept: Śānti through mantra: portents and social/political turbulence are addressed by Vedic recitation aligned to Śrī (order, abundance, auspiciousness).
Application: Employ Śrīsūkta as a standard śānti-pāṭha in times of ominous signs, instability, or for prosperity-invocation in household/temple rites.
Khanda Section: Ritual Manuals (Atharva-vidhāna) & Utpāta-śānti (Omens and Pacification Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Puṣkara teaches a śānti rite: a small altar, offerings prepared, and a manuscript/scroll showing the opening words ‘hiraṇyavarṇā…’; the atmosphere is auspicious, aimed at pacifying ominous signs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Lakṣmī as golden-hued presence behind Puṣkara, śānti-homa altar, palm-leaf text with ‘hiraṇyavarṇā’, traditional flat perspective, rich ochres and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Lakṣmī motif implied by golden aura, Puṣkara reciting, ornate altar vessels, heavy gold leaf accents emphasizing ‘hiraṇya’ (gold) theme","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: Puṣkara pointing to 15-verse list, neat ritual implements for śānti, soft shading, clarity of procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest reciting to a patron household, subtle depiction of ominous signs outside (dark clouds/birds) being pacified, fine detailing of manuscript and altar"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye ← iti + āgneye; nāmaika- ← nāma + eka-; 'dhyāyaḥ ← adhyāyaḥ with avagraha; prasādayediti ← prasādayet + iti; prativedañca ← prativedam + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 262 (Utpātaśānti section); Agni Purāṇa 261 (Atharvavidhāna context)
FAQs
It identifies Utpāta-śānti (pacifying ominous portents) and prescribes Śrīsūkta recitation—specifically the fifteen ṛk-verses beginning “hiraṇyavarṇā”—as a prosperity-enhancing (lakṣmī-vivardhana) rite, along with a supplementary Vedic recitation (prativeda).
It bridges multiple domains—Atharva-style ritual procedure, political pragmatics (appeasing an angry ruler), and omen-pacification—showing how the Agni Purana compiles applied liturgy, statecraft-adjacent counsel, and Vedic hymnology within a single textual continuum.
Recitation of the Śrīsūkta is presented as a dhārmic means to restore auspiciousness, counteract inauspicious signs, and cultivate Śrī (prosperity and well-being), implying merit through Vedic devotion and ritual rectification of adverse omens.