Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 6
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
शतमूलेन सर्वाप्तिर्गोशृङ्गोदकतो ऽघजित् पलाशबिल्वकमलकुशस्नानन्तु सर्वदं
śatamūlena sarvāptirgośṛṅgodakato 'ghajit palāśabilvakamalakuśasnānantu sarvadaṃ
शतमूल-प्रयोगाने स्नान केल्यास सर्वसिद्धी मिळते. गो-शृंगाने संस्कारित जलाने पापांवर विजय मिळतो. पलाश, बिल्व, कमळ व कुशा यांनी केलेले स्नान सर्वफलदायी आहे.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Perform prescribed snāna-prayoga (bathing observances) using specific sanctified waters and plant materials to remove pāpa and secure desired ritual results.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-prayoga: Śatamūla, Gośṛṅgodaka, Palāśa–Bilva–Kamala–Kuśa","lookup_keywords":["shatamula","goshṛnga-udaka","palasha","bilva","snana"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists three bath-media and their fruits: Śatamūla for complete attainment, cow-horn sanctified water for conquering sin, and a bath with palāśa, bilva, lotus, and kuśa as universally beneficent."}
Concept: External śuddhi (ritual bath) is presented as a support for inner and outer siddhi—removing pāpa and enabling desired outcomes.
Application: Before pūjā/vrata, adopt a structured snāna with sanctified water and prescribed botanicals as a discipline of attention and purity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Snana-prayoga (Ritual Bathing and Purificatory Observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee prepares three kinds of ritual bath: a multi-root infusion (śatamūla), water sanctified with a cow’s horn, and a bath with palāśa, bilva leaves, lotus, and kuśa spread around a bathing vessel.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, snāna-maṇḍapa scene: priest holds cow horn over a water pot, assistants arrange palāśa and bilva leaves with lotus and kuśa, subdued ochres and greens, sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate kalasha and cow horn highlighted with gold, lotus blossoms and bilva leaves arranged symmetrically, auspicious motifs, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional layout: śatamūla bundle, cow horn sanctifying water, and a tray of palāśa-bilva-kamala-kuśa; fine detailing and labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard bathing preparation: attendants grind roots, one dips cow horn into a ewer, lotus and leaves in baskets; intricate textiles, realistic vessels, delicate linework."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वाप्तिः + गोशृङ्गोदकतः → सर्वाप्तिर्गोशृङ्गोदकतः; उदकतः + अघजित् (अवग्रह) → उदकतो ऽघजित्; स्नानम् + तु → स्नानन्तु
Related Themes: Agni Purana 266 (series on snāna-dravya and phala)
FAQs
It prescribes specific snāna-dravyas (bathing substances): Śatamūla as an efficacious herbal bath, gośṛṅga-udaka (water sanctified with a cow’s horn) for pāpa-kṣaya, and a botanical bath using palāśa, bilva, lotus, and kuśa to confer broad ritual merit.
It blends ritual technology (snāna and consecrated water), sacred botany (palāśa, bilva, lotus, kuśa), and quasi-medical herbal practice (Śatamūla), showing how the Agni Purana catalogues practical rites alongside materia sacra in a handbook-like manner.
The verse frames bathing as a means of pāpa-śodhana (sin/pollution removal) and sarva-siddhi (general auspicious attainment), indicating that correctly performed purification rites transform karmic burden into ritual purity and merit.