Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 42
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
सौभाग्यार्थी च सौभाग्यं मोक्षं मोक्षार्थिनो गताः लिखन्तो लेखयन्तश् च निष्पापश् च श्रियं गताः
saubhāgyārthī ca saubhāgyaṃ mokṣaṃ mokṣārthino gatāḥ likhanto lekhayantaś ca niṣpāpaś ca śriyaṃ gatāḥ
सौभाग्य इच्छिणाऱ्यांना सौभाग्य मिळते; मोक्ष इच्छिणाऱ्यांना मोक्ष प्राप्त होतो. जे लिहितात व जे लिहवितात ते पापरहित होऊन श्रीसमृद्धी प्राप्त करतात.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Use as pāṭha–lekhana māhātmya: encourage recitation, copying, and patronage of manuscript production for puṇya, pāpa-kṣaya, śrī, and mokṣa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāṭha–lekhana merit: prosperity, sinlessness, and mokṣa","lookup_keywords":["lekhana","pāṭha","niṣpāpa","śrī","mokṣa"],"quick_summary":"Recitation and especially writing/commissioning the text are presented as concrete religious acts that remove sin and bring prosperity; seekers of mokṣa attain mokṣa."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa and parallelism (arthin/phala pairs; lekhana/lekhayanta)
Concept: Śāstra-sevā as karma-yoga/bhakti: supporting transmission (writing, commissioning) becomes a purifier leading to śrī and mokṣa.
Application: Maintain a disciplined recitation routine; support preservation by copying, sponsoring editions, or teaching—treating it as dāna and sevā.
Khanda Section: Phala-śruti (Merit of Recitation/Copying) — Pāṭha–Lekhana Māhātmya
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe carefully writing the Agni Purāṇa on palm leaves while a patron provides materials; Lakṣmī-like prosperity symbolism and a radiant aura indicating pāpa-kṣaya and mokṣa-fruit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple scribe with stylus and palm leaves, patron offering ink and leaves, auspicious Śrī symbols (lotus, conch motifs), calm shanta mood, earthy pigments and bold contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated scribe with manuscript, patron with offerings, gold-leaf lotus and Śrī motifs, ornate frame, emphasis on prosperity and purity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed instructional depiction of manuscript writing tools, neat composition, soft colors, subtle halo indicating niṣpāpatva and mokṣa","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, kitabkhana (scriptorium) scene with calligrapher and patron, fine textiles, inkpots, manuscript folios, symbolic light suggesting spiritual merit"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional-instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लेखयन्तश् च = लेखयन्तः + च; निष्पापश् च = निष्पापः + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 382 (pāṭha–lekhana phala-śruti); Agni Purana dāna and vrata sections (general)
FAQs
It teaches the puṇya-principle of text-transmission: copying a sacred work (likhana) or sponsoring its copying (lekhāpana) is itself a meritorious practice that yields prosperity and supports the seeker’s aim, including mokṣa.
Beyond doctrines and rituals, it preserves a cultural-technical practice—manuscript production and patronage—showing how the Purāṇa systematizes even knowledge-preservation (scribal copying, commissioning) as part of dharma and religious life.
It asserts that writing or commissioning the writing of the sacred text removes pāpa (sin/negative karma) and grants śrī (prosperity), while aligning outcomes with intention: the mokṣa-seeker attains mokṣa; the prosperity-seeker attains prosperity.