Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
तुलापुरुषमुख्यानि महादानानि षोडश अन्नदानानि मुख्यानि सर्वाण्यघहराणि हि
tulāpuruṣamukhyāni mahādānāni ṣoḍaśa annadānāni mukhyāni sarvāṇyaghaharāṇi hi
ਤੁਲਾਪੁਰੁਸ਼ ਆਦਿ ਸੋਲ੍ਹਾਂ ਮਹਾਦਾਨ ਵਿਧਿਤ ਹਨ; ਪਰ ਸਭ ਦਾਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਅੰਨ-ਦਾਨ ਮੁੱਖ ਹੈ, ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਹੀ ਸਭ ਦਾਨ ਪਾਪਹਰ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for merit-making and social welfare: understand the hierarchy of dānas (including the sixteen mahādānas like Tulāpuruṣa) while prioritizing anna-dāna as most universally beneficial.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṣoḍaśa Mahādāna and the supremacy of Anna-dāna","lookup_keywords":["ṣoḍaśa mahādāna","Tulāpuruṣa","anna-dāna","dāna-dharma","aghaharaṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates the ‘sixteen great gifts’ with Tulāpuruṣa foremost, yet teaches that food-giving is the highest among gifts because it sustains life and is broadly purificatory."}
Concept: Dāna is both expiatory and socially sustaining; among all forms, anna-dāna is supreme because it directly supports prāṇa and enables all dharmic pursuits.
Application: Prioritize regular food distribution (feeding guests, poor, students, pilgrims) even if large ceremonial mahādānas are not feasible; reserve grand gifts like Tulāpuruṣa for exceptional occasions and capacity.
Khanda Section: Dāna-dharma (Charity, Mahādāna and Annavidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand Tulāpuruṣa ceremony: a donor seated on one side of a balance scale weighed against gold; alongside, a more universal scene of anna-dāna—serving cooked food to lines of recipients—emphasizing the verse’s priority.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple courtyard: large balance scale with donor and gold, priests officiating; adjacent feeding hall with banana-leaf meals served, warm ochres and reds, rhythmic composition showing ‘mahādāna’ and ‘anna-dāna’.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ceremonial Tulāpuruṣa with ornate scale and gold-leaf highlights, donor richly dressed, priests with vessels; foreground anna-dāna with gleaming serving pots, embossed gold accents, vibrant palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, documentary clarity: labeled depiction of Tulāpuruṣa scale mechanics and the anna-dāna serving process, fine linework, soft colors, emphasis on objects (tulā, suvarṇa, pātra, anna).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, royal charity scene: a ruler weighed against gold on a grand scale, courtiers present; nearby a langar-like distribution of food, intricate architectural backdrop, detailed costumes and vessels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamas","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तुलापुरुषमुख्यानि = तुला + पुरुष + मुख्यानि; महादानानि = महा + दानानि; सर्वाण्यघहराणि = सर्वाणि + अघहराणि (यण्-सन्धि).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa dāna-dharma and mahādāna descriptions (where detailed); Agni Purāṇa annadāna/atithi-dharma passages
FAQs
It classifies dāna-practice by citing the ‘sixteen mahādānas’ (with Tulāpuruṣa as a leading example) and states a practical hierarchy: annadāna (food donation) is considered the most important form of giving.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s dharma-encyclopedia style by codifying ritual categories (mahādāna lists) alongside ethical prioritization (the primacy of annadāna), integrating rite, social duty, and karmic doctrine in a compact rule-like verse.
The verse teaches that charitable giving—especially food charity—functions as aghahara (sin-removing), generating puṇya and supporting purification through compassionate sustenance of others.