Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 39
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
गवान्तु लवणन्देयं ब्राह्मणानाञ्च दक्षिणा नैमित्तिके माकरादौ यजेद्विष्णुं सह श्रिया
gavāntu lavaṇandeyaṃ brāhmaṇānāñca dakṣiṇā naimittike mākarādau yajedviṣṇuṃ saha śriyā
Deve-se doar vacas juntamente com sal, e também conceder a dakṣiṇā, a remuneração ritual, aos brāhmaṇas. Num rito naimittika, realizado por ocasião específica—como no período de Makara (Makara-saṅkrānti) e semelhantes—deve-se adorar Viṣṇu juntamente com Śrī (Lakṣmī).
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for dāna and dakṣiṇā in occasion-specific rites (naimittika), especially around Makara-saṅkrānti, with Viṣṇu-Śrī worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Go-dāna with lavaṇa and brāhmaṇa-dakṣiṇā; Makara-ādi naimittika Viṣṇu-Śrī pūjā","lookup_keywords":["go-dāna","lavaṇa-dāna","dakṣiṇā","naimittika","Makara"],"quick_summary":"Donate cows together with salt and pay priestly fees; for special occasions like Makara-saṅkrānti, worship Viṣṇu along with Lakṣmī to secure auspicious results."}
Concept: Dāna and dakṣiṇā complete ritual merit; naimittika rites are time-triggered duties rather than optional acts.
Application: Pair worship with tangible giving (go-dāna, lavaṇa) and fair compensation to officiants to ‘seal’ the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vrata-dana (Ritual observances, gifts, and expiatory rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A donor presents a cow with a vessel of salt to a brāhmaṇa priest; nearby, a shrine shows Viṣṇu with Lakṣmī being worshipped during Makara-saṅkrānti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: left panel go-dāna—cow with garland, salt pot; right panel Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa worship with lamps; subtle solar motif for saṅkrānti.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa central with gold halos; lower band depicts go-dāna and dakṣiṇā exchange, ornate vessels and textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional tableau—sequence panels: (1) prepare lavaṇa, (2) go-dāna, (3) dakṣiṇā, (4) Viṣṇu-Śrī pūjā at saṅkrānti; clean labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed gifting scene in a courtyard; priest receiving dakṣiṇā; background shows a small shrine with Viṣṇu-Lakṣmī and a sun-disc indicating saṅkrānti."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लवणन्देयं = लवणम् + देयम् (म् + द → न्द् in euphonic combination as transmitted); ब्राह्मणानाञ्च = ब्राह्मणानाम् + च (म् + च → ञ्च); माकरादौ = माकर-आदौ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dāna-khaṇḍa sections on go-dāna and dakṣiṇā; Agni Purana: Saṅkrānti-vrata and naimittika-kriyā listings
FAQs
It prescribes a naimittika (occasion-based) ritual protocol: donate cows with salt, give dakṣiṇā to Brāhmaṇas, and perform Viṣṇu worship together with Śrī (Lakṣmī), especially at Makara-related auspicious times.
It illustrates the text’s practical ritual manual aspect—linking calendrical occasions (Makara), regulated charity (dāna), priestly remuneration (dakṣiṇā), and deity-focused worship (Viṣṇu with Śrī)—showing how dharma, festival timing, and pūjā-vidhi are integrated.
The combination of prescribed gifts and Viṣṇu–Śrī worship is presented as a merit-generating, auspicious act that supports prosperity (Śrī) and purification through correct observance of occasion-based dharma.