Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 19
Dānādi-māhātmya — The Glory of Gifts, Manuscript-Donation, and Purāṇic Transmission
दद्यात् शरदि विषुवे धर्मार्थादिनिबोधनम् कूर्मञ्चाष्टसहस्रञ्च कूर्मोक्तञ्च रसातले
dadyāt śaradi viṣuve dharmārthādinibodhanam kūrmañcāṣṭasahasrañca kūrmoktañca rasātale
शरद्विषुवे धर्मार्थादिनिबोधकं ग्रन्थं दद्यात्; कूर्मं च, अष्टसहस्रं च, तथा कूर्मोक्तं रसातलसम्बद्धं विधिं च दद्यात्।
Lord Agni (narrating prescriptive dharma to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Śarad-viṣuva (autumnal equinox) dāna: gifting didactic texts (dharma-artha-ādi-nibodhana), symbolic animal-dāna (kūrma), and a fixed numerical dakṣiṇā as prescribed in allied Purāṇic injunctions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śarad-viṣuva dāna: Dharma–Artha-nibodhana and Kūrma-dāna","lookup_keywords":["śarad-viṣuva","dharma-artha-nibodhana","kūrma-dāna","aṣṭasahasra","kūrma-purāṇa"],"quick_summary":"On the autumnal equinox, donate an instructive manual on the puruṣārthas along with a tortoise-gift and the stipulated dakṣiṇā; follow the Kūrma-purāṇa’s additional prescription connected with Rasātala."}
Concept: Puruṣārtha-sādhana through dāna—supporting śāstra (knowledge) and symbolic cosmic supports (kūrma/Rasātala motif).
Application: Schedule charitable giving on viṣuva; prioritize gifting knowledge-texts and prescribed dakṣiṇā to qualified recipients.
Khanda Section: Dana-dharma / Vrata-kalpa (Charitable rites and calendrical observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brāhmaṇa recipient seated on a kuśa-mat while a donor offers a palm-leaf/scroll ‘Dharma–Artha’ manual, a tortoise-shaped golden icon, and a heap of coins at the autumnal equinox with balanced day-night symbolism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm ochres and reds, viṣuva dāna scene: donor in white mundu offering a palm-leaf manuscript and a golden tortoise icon to a brāhmaṇa, subtle sun and scales motif for equinox, temple courtyard backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich gold leaf work: brāhmaṇa with halo receiving śāstra-grantha and kūrma-shaped golden dāna, ornate arch, embossed coins (aṣṭasahasra) depicted as gold discs, deep jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework: instructional composition showing items of dāna labeled—grantha, kūrma-pratimā, coins—set on a ritual tray, equinox sun at center, calm domestic-ritual interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly charity: patron presenting manuscript and tortoise-shaped gold object to a learned brāhmaṇa, attendants counting coins, garden pavilion, precise textiles and calligraphic borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कूर्मञ्च = कूर्मम् + च; अष्टसहस्रञ्च = अष्टसहस्रम् + च; कूर्मोक्तञ्च = कूर्मोक्तम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 271 (dāna-vidhi/viṣuva-dāna sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific equinox-time dāna: gifting a dharma–artha instructional text (a didactic manual), along with designated valuables (including a tortoise and a counted offering of “eight thousand”).
It combines calendrical astronomy (viṣuva timing), dharmaśāstric charity injunctions (dāna), textual transmission (gifting instructional treatises), and purāṇic cosmology (Rasātala), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s cross-disciplinary scope.
Equinox-time gifts are framed as merit-generating acts: supporting dharma through teaching-text donations and prescribed offerings is intended to increase puṇya and align the giver with righteous order (dharma) at a ritually potent time.