Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 38
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
चत्वारि भङ्गेत्येतत्तु सर्वपापहरं जले देवा यज्ञेति जप्त्वा तु ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
catvāri bhaṅgetyetattu sarvapāpaharaṃ jale devā yajñeti japtvā tu brahmaloke mahīyate
А мантра, начинающаяся словами «catvāri bhaṅge…», произнесённая в воде, уносит все грехи. И, произнеся «devā yajñe…», человек почитается и возвышается в мире Брахмы (Brahmaloka).
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s primary narration to a sage, commonly transmitted as Agni’s instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Water-recitation (japa in/over water) for sin-removal using ‘catvāri bhaṅge…’; separate japa ‘devā yajñe…’ for attaining honor in Brahmaloka (posthumous/merit fruition).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Jala-japa ‘catvāri bhaṅge…’ for sarva-pāpa-hara; ‘devā yajñe…’ for Brahmaloka-prāpti","lookup_keywords":["catvāri bhaṅge","jala-japa","sarva-pāpa-hara","devā yajñe","Brahmaloka"],"quick_summary":"Reciting the ‘catvāri bhaṅge…’ mantra in water is prescribed as a universal sin-remover; reciting ‘devā yajñe…’ is said to yield exaltation in Brahmaloka."}
Concept: Prāyaścitta through mantra and water as purifier; karmic fruition culminating in higher-loka honor through yajña-linked recitation.
Application: Employ water-japa as an accessible expiation practice; orient conduct toward yajña-spirit (offering, discipline) to support the promised merit.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa, Snana-prayoga, Prayaschitta)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bather stands waist-deep in a river or tank, reciting ‘catvāri bhaṅge…’ as the water glows; a second vignette shows a radiant ascent toward Brahmaloka after ‘devā yajñe…’ recitation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sacred waterbody with stylized waves, devotee in snāna posture, mantra syllables as white glyphs over water, upper register showing Brahmaloka with lotus motifs and Brahmā’s presence.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-work on the water vessel and haloed Brahmaloka scene, devotee reciting with folded hands, ornate celestial architecture, rich reds and blues.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear two-panel instructional art: jala-japa method and merit-fruit depiction, delicate lines, soft palette, readable mantra cartouches.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed riverside bathing ghat, attendants and trees, subtle supernatural glow in water, upper sky band with Brahmaloka palace rendered in fine architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhaṅge + iti → bhaṅgeti; iti + etat → ityetat; etat + tu → etattu; yajñe + iti → yajñeti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 259 (snāna-prayoga and prāyaścitta mantras); Agni Purana discussions of lokas and merit-fruits in cosmological passages
FAQs
It prescribes a prayashchitta-style practice: reciting a specific mantra while in water (snana context) as a sin-removing japa, and reciting another mantra-formula (“devā yajñe…”) for elevated posthumous merit.
It functions like a compact ritual manual entry—linking mantra incipits, the correct ritual setting (water/snana), and the stated results (papa-kshaya and Brahmaloka merit), exemplifying the Agni Purana’s catalog-style coverage of practical dharma and rites.
The verse assigns karmic efficacy to mantra-japa performed in a purificatory medium (water), promising comprehensive sin-removal and honor in Brahmaloka as the stated spiritual fruit.