Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 48
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
आयाते दर्शनं वाचा तवाहमिति चार्पणं यः सम्प्राप्तधनोत्सर्ग उत्तमाधममध्यमः
āyāte darśanaṃ vācā tavāhamiti cārpaṇaṃ yaḥ samprāptadhanotsarga uttamādhamamadhyamaḥ
ଆସିଥିବା ଯାଚକ/ଅତିଥିକୁ ଆଦରେ ଦର୍ଶନ ଦେଇ, ‘ଏହା ତୁମର; ମୁଁ ତୁମର’ ବୋଲି କହି ଅର୍ପଣ କରି, ହାତକୁ ଆସିଥିବା ଧନ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରୁଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି—ଭାବ ଓ ପ୍ରକାର ଅନୁସାରେ ଉତ୍ତମ, ମଧ୍ୟମ କିମ୍ବା ଅଧମ ଗଣାଯାଏ।
Lord Agni (narrating the dharma of giving to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethical giving: receive the supplicant with respect, verbally dedicate the gift, and relinquish wealth with proper intention—used to grade the quality of dāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Dāna with Darśana and Vāk-arpana (Verbal Dedication)","lookup_keywords":["dāna-dharma","darśana","vāk-arpana","tavāham","atithi"],"quick_summary":"True charity begins with respectful audience and humble speech, then the actual relinquishment of wealth. The giver’s grade (uttama/madhyama/adhama) depends on the spirit and manner of offering."}
Concept: Dāna is not merely transfer of wealth; it is a moral act shaped by reception (darśana), speech (arpana), and inner surrender (tyāga).
Application: When approached for help, first offer respectful attention, then clearly dedicate the gift without condescension, and give promptly from available means.
Khanda Section: Dāna-Dharma (Charity, gifts, and merit)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A supplicant arrives at a household or court; the donor offers respectful audience, speaks humbly ‘this is yours,’ and hands over wealth with open palms.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: householder/donor seated on a low seat offering coins/cloth to a visitor, attendants holding water-pot for hospitality, expressive compassionate faces, temple-like interior motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: donor couple with ornate jewelry offering a gift bundle to a brahmin/guest, gold leaf on vessels and textiles, frontal iconic composition emphasizing ‘dāna’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic scene with donor greeting the guest (darśana) then gifting, fine linework, calm palette, small caption cartouche indicating uttama/madhyama/adhama intent.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard reception with detailed costumes, donor extending a purse, scribe noting the gift, nuanced expressions of humility and gratitude, floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चार्पणं = च + अर्पणम्; तवाहमिति = तव + अहम् + इति; सम्प्राप्तधनोत्सर्ग = सम्प्राप्त-धन-उत्सर्गः; उत्तमाधममध्यमः = उत्तम-अधम-मध्यमः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 240 (dāna classifications and procedures)
FAQs
It teaches dāna-vidhi as a practical discipline: receive the petitioner with respectful attention (darśana), verbally dedicate the gift (“tava aham”), and actually relinquish acquired wealth—highlighting that the quality of giving is graded by manner and intent.
By codifying social-ritual ethics around charity (dāna) and hospitality, it adds a dharmaśāstra-like layer to the Agni Purana’s wide coverage, alongside its ritual, governance, and other technical topics.
Merit depends not only on the material gift but on humility and surrender in the act of giving; respectful reception and wholehearted dedication purify possessiveness and strengthen punya (karmic merit).