Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 10
प्रयागमाहात्म्यम्
The Greatness of Prayāga
वासुकेर्भोगवत्यत्र हंसप्रपतनं परं गवां कोटिप्रदानाद्यत् त्र्यहं स्नानस्य तत्फलं
vāsukerbhogavatyatra haṃsaprapatanaṃ paraṃ gavāṃ koṭipradānādyat tryahaṃ snānasya tatphalaṃ
Di sini, di Bhogavatī milik Vāsuki, tīrtha tertinggi bernama Haṃsa-prapatana (Turunnya Angsa) dipuji. Buah pahala mandi di sana selama tiga hari adalah setara dengan pahala sedekah yang bermula dengan derma sepuluh juta ekor lembu.
Lord Agni (narrating the tirtha-mahatmya to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Guidance for tirtha-observance: undertaking a three-day bath at the named tirtha to obtain merit equated with massive cow-donation, useful for planning vrata-like pilgrimage schedules.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhogavati of Vasuki: Hamsa-prapatana Tirtha and Tri-ahna Snana Phala","lookup_keywords":["Vasuki","Bhogavati","Hamsa-prapatana","tri-aha snana","go-koti dana"],"quick_summary":"The verse identifies a specific tirtha associated with Vasuki and teaches a merit-equivalence: three days of bathing there yields fruit comparable to donating ten million cows."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti
Concept: Ritual substitution and accessibility: intense merit can be obtained through disciplined snana-vrata at a potent kshetra, paralleling otherwise unattainable grand donations.
Application: Adopt a tri-aha snana regimen (three consecutive days) with restraint and japa as a feasible alternative to large-scale dana.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shraddha
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred water-fall/ford named Hamsa-prapatana near Bhogavati; Vasuki’s presence is suggested beneath/near the waters, while pilgrims perform three-day bathing; cows and gifts appear symbolically to show merit equivalence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic water descent with a white hamsa motif above, naga-king Vasuki with multi-hoods emerging from stylized waves, pilgrims bathing at dawn, symbolic cow-gift imagery in side panels, bold colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Hamsa-prapatana waterfall with gold highlights, Vasuki as ornate naga with jeweled hoods, pilgrims in prayerful snana, miniature golden cows arranged as symbolic dana, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear narrative: day 1-2-3 bathing sequence along the same ghat, Vasuki icon subtly in background shrine, hamsa emblem overhead, fine linework and gentle tones","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scenic cascade and riverside, naga figure rendered mythically yet elegant, pilgrims bathing with attendants, symbolic herd of cows in a corner vignette, detailed landscape and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वासुकेर्भोगवत्यत्र→वासुकेः + भोगवती + अत्र. कोटिप्रदानाद्यत्→कोटि + प्रदानात् + यत्. त्र्यहं→त्रि + अहम् (i.e., त्र्यहम्). तत्फलं→तत् + फलम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 111.7; Agni Purana 111.9
FAQs
It prescribes a tīrtha-snāna practice: bathing for three consecutive days at the Haṃsa-prapatana ford at Bhogavatī (associated with Vāsuki), and states its quantified merit by comparison with major dāna (charitable gifting).
It catalogues sacred geography (tīrthas) and assigns measurable religious outcomes (phala-śruti), integrating pilgrimage, ritual purity, and charity—one of the Agni Purana’s many practical knowledge domains alongside law, worship procedure, and statecraft.
The verse teaches that concentrated purification through three-day tīrtha bathing can yield extraordinary puṇya—ritually equated with the immense merit of donating ten million cows—highlighting the power of sacred-place observance to cleanse karma and accrue spiritual merit.