Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Adhyaya 165 — नानाधर्माः
Various Dharmas
अग्नौकरणशेषन्तु न दद्याद्वैश्वदेविके अग्न्यभावे तु विप्रस्य हस्ते दद्यात्तु दक्षिणे
agnaukaraṇaśeṣantu na dadyādvaiśvadevike agnyabhāve tu viprasya haste dadyāttu dakṣiṇe
В обряде Vaiśvadeva не следует подносить остаток того, что уже было принесено в огонь. Но если огня нет, следует дать это в правую руку брахмана как дакшину (dakṣiṇā).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Correct handling of offerings in Vaiśvadeva: avoid re-offering fire-remnants; when fire is unavailable, redirect the offering as dakṣiṇā into a brāhmaṇa’s right hand to preserve ritual propriety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiśvadeva Offering Rule: No Agni-śeṣa; Substitute Dakṣiṇā When No Fire","lookup_keywords":["Vaiśvadeva","agni-śeṣa","bali-dāna","dakṣiṇā","anagnika (no fire)"],"quick_summary":"In Vaiśvadeva, do not offer what remains after a prior fire-offering. If fire is not available, give the intended portion as dakṣiṇā into the right hand of a brāhmaṇa."}
Concept: Dravya-śuddhi and prayoga-śuddhi: offerings must be properly qualified; when a primary means (agni) is absent, dharma provides an authorized substitute (brāhmaṇa-dakṣiṇā).
Application: In constrained settings (travel, lack of hearth), convert the intended oblation into a respectful gift to a qualified brāhmaṇa, maintaining right-hand giving convention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishvadeva & Bali-dana procedures)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder performs Vaiśvadeva near a small fire altar; a separate bowl of remnants is kept aside (not re-offered). In a second vignette without fire, the householder places the offering into a brāhmaṇa’s right hand as dakṣiṇā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: domestic altar with agni, offerings arranged on banana leaf, clear gesture of refusal to re-offer remnants; alternate scene of right-hand dakṣiṇā to a brāhmaṇa, stylized figures and ritual vessels.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented gṛhastha giving dakṣiṇā to brāhmaṇa, gold detailing on vessels and sacred thread, small agni-kunda in background, emphasis on auspicious domestic dharma.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step instructional layout—panel 1: agni offering; panel 2: mark ‘do not offer agni-śeṣa’; panel 3: ‘if no fire’ give to brāhmaṇa’s right hand, fine linework and labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard household rite with attendants, small brazier, scholar-priest supervising; second scene shows gift placed into brāhmaṇa’s right palm, detailed textiles and utensils."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अग्नौकरणशेषन्तु→अग्नौकरणशेषम् तु; दद्याद्वैश्वदेविके→दद्यात् वैश्वदेविके; दद्यात्तु→दद्यात् तु; अग्न्यभावे→अग्नि-अभावे (यण्-सन्धि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vaiśvadeva/bali-dāna procedures; Agni Purana: Gṛhya-dharma and dāna rules
FAQs
It gives a procedural rule for Vaiśvadeva: do not re-offer the leftover from prior fire-offerings; if no fire is available, transfer the offering by giving it to a brāhmaṇa’s right hand as a valid substitute act.
It preserves practical dharma-ritual protocol for household worship, including contingency instructions (absence of fire), showing the text’s breadth in codifying everyday religious practice alongside other sciences.
It safeguards ritual purity and proper sequence (avoiding improper reuse of remnants), while ensuring the rite still yields merit through a dharmic alternative—honoring a brāhmaṇa as a living recipient when Agni is unavailable.