Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 4
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
स्नानं घृतेन कथितमायुष्यवर्धनं परम् गोमयेन च लक्ष्मीः स्याद्गोमूत्रेणाघमर्दनम्
snānaṃ ghṛtena kathitamāyuṣyavardhanaṃ param gomayena ca lakṣmīḥ syādgomūtreṇāghamardanam
ਘਿਉ ਨਾਲ ਸਨਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਪਰਮ ਆਯੁ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਗੋਬਰ ਨਾਲ ਲਕਸ਼ਮੀ (ਸਮ੍ਰਿੱਧੀ) ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਗੋਮੂਤਰ ਨਾਲ ਪਾਪ/ਮੈਲ ਦਾ ਨਾਸ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Purificatory bathing substances are mapped to tangible outcomes: longevity (ghee), prosperity (cow-dung), and purification/expiation (cow-urine), guiding household and ritual hygiene practices.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Snāna-dravya phala: Ghṛta (āyuḥ), Gomaya (lakṣmī), Gomūtra (aghahāni)","lookup_keywords":["ghṛta-snāna","gomaya-snāna","gomūtra-snāna","āyuṣya-vardhana","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse assigns specific benefits to bathing media: ghee promotes longevity, cow-dung supports prosperity, and cow-urine removes impurity/sin—serving as a quick ritual-health reference."}
Concept: Dravya-guṇa-phala sambandha: specific substances are prescribed for specific worldly and ritual results (āyuḥ, śrī, śuddhi).
Application: Choose bathing/cleansing media according to intended outcome—strengthening (ghṛta), auspicious household prosperity rites (gomaya), expiatory purification (gomūtra)—within one’s tradition and safe practice.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Snana-vidhi and Purificatory/Health Practices)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three-panel instructional scene: (1) person anointed/bathed with ghee labeled ‘āyuṣya’, (2) cleansing with cow-dung water labeled ‘lakṣmī’, (3) purification with cow-urine (diluted) labeled ‘aghahāni’; set in a traditional courtyard with ritual vessels.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych composition with bold labels in stylized script, ritual vessels and courtyard, warm earthy tones, symbolic Lakṣmī motif near gomaya panel, calm didactic mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents on vessels and auspicious symbols, Lakṣmī iconography subtly behind gomaya panel, rich decorative borders, clear three-benefit layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram-like panels, fine linework showing substances and method of application, gentle colors, emphasis on clarity and traditional household setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic courtyard, attendants preparing bowls of ghṛta, gomaya mixture, and diluted gomūtra, small caption cartouches for benefits, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कथितमायुष्यवर्धनं→कथितम् + आयुष्यवर्धनम्; स्याद्गोमूत्रेण→स्यात् + गोमूत्रेण (त्+ग→द्ग)
Related Themes: Agni Purana snāna-vidhi and prayāścitta-related passages in Puja-vidhi/Ayurveda portions
FAQs
It prescribes specific snāna-dravyas (bath substances)—ghee for enhancing longevity, cow-dung for attracting prosperity, and cow-urine for removing pāpa/impurity—linking bodily cleansing with ritual and karmic outcomes.
By cataloging practical health-and-purification procedures (snāna benefits and materials), it demonstrates the text’s coverage beyond mythology into applied Ayurveda-like regimen and ritual hygiene—typical of the Agni Purana’s multi-disciplinary scope.
The verse frames bathing as a means of both āyuṣya (life-force/longevity) augmentation and pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sin/impurity), presenting cleanliness as a vehicle for merit, prosperity, and purification.