Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
ग्रीष्मे तु वाजपेयस्य राजसूयस्य वर्षति गोसहस्रस्य शरदि फलं तत्पठतो ह्य् ऋतौ
grīṣme tu vājapeyasya rājasūyasya varṣati gosahasrasya śaradi phalaṃ tatpaṭhato hy ṛtau
Mas no verão (grīṣma), o mérito é o do Vājapeya; na estação das chuvas (varṣā), o do Rājasūya; no outono (śarad), o fruto equivale à dádiva de mil vacas—tal é a recompensa sazonal para quem o recita no tempo apropriado.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Seasonal recitation schedule promising graded merits: Vājapeya (grīṣma), Rājasūya (varṣā), and go-sahasra-dāna equivalent (śarad) for timely pāṭha.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṛtu-wise Pāṭha-phala: Vājapeya, Rājasūya, Go-sahasra","lookup_keywords":["grīṣma","varṣā","śarad","Vājapeya","Rājasūya"],"quick_summary":"Reciting in specific seasons is said to yield merits comparable to major royal sacrifices and large-scale cow-gifting, encouraging disciplined annual reading cycles."}
Concept: Kāla-niyama (timely observance) strengthens dharma; śāstra-pāṭha is elevated to the status of śrauta and dāna merits.
Application: Plan a four-season reading program; in śarad pair recitation with actual charity (go-sevā/dāna) to embody the stated phala.
Khanda Section: Phala-śruti (Merit of Recitation) / Vrata-vidhi & Ritual Merits
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A reciter reads in different seasons; symbolic motifs show Vājapeya, Rājasūya, and a thousand cows as merit-icons.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with triptych panels: summer sun with Vājapeya emblem (soma vessel/ritual banner), monsoon clouds with Rājasūya royal parasol and fire-altar, autumn golden fields with a herd of cows; central figure reciting from the Purāṇa","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central recitation scene with gold haloed book pedestal; surrounding medallions: soma cup for Vājapeya, royal throne/parasol for Rājasūya, embossed cow herd for go-sahasra; heavy gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic seasonal chart-like painting: three rows labeled grīṣma/varṣā/śarad with corresponding icons; reciter seated at side, clean lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant seasonal landscapes in three registers—summer garden, rainy courtyard, autumn pasture with cows—each with a small scholar reciting; fine detailing and naturalistic clouds"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Malhar (for varṣā emphasis)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्पठतो = तत्-पठतः; ह्य् ऋतौ = हि-ऋतौ
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 382.27 (preceding seasonal yajña-tulya mapping); Agni Purāṇa 382.29 (jñāna-yajña framing)
FAQs
It teaches ṛtu-phala—how the merit of reciting the specified sacred text is calibrated by season, being equated to major śrauta rites (Vājapeya, Rājasūya) and to the high-value gift of a thousand cows.
By indexing devotional recitation to classical Vedic sacrificial benchmarks and dāna (cow-gifting) economy, it preserves cross-domain knowledge—ritual science (śrauta), calendrical/seasonal discipline (ṛtu), and merit theory (phala-śruti)—in a compact, practical rule.
It frames disciplined, timely recitation as a karma-purifying act whose spiritual yield can rival prestigious royal sacrifices and major gifts, emphasizing right time (ṛtu) as a multiplier of religious merit.