Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 10
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
पद्मोत्पलकदम्बैश् च श्रीर्बलं बलाद्रुमोदकैः विष्णुपादोदकस्नानं सर्वस्नानेभ्य उत्तमम्
padmotpalakadambaiś ca śrīrbalaṃ balādrumodakaiḥ viṣṇupādodakasnānaṃ sarvasnānebhya uttamam
தாமரை, நீலத்தாமரை, கடம்ப மலர்களுடன், திருமகள் அருளும் மங்களமும் வலிமையும் சேர்ந்து, பலா மரத்தின் நீருடன்—விஷ்ணுவின் திருவடிகளைத் துவைத்த நீரில் நீராடுதல் எல்லா நீராடல்களிலும் உத்தமமானது.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Tirtha-snāna and purification: preparing a sanctified bath using flowers and especially Viṣṇu-pādodaka (caraṇāmṛta) as the highest purificatory bath in pūjā and vrata contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-pādodaka-snāna as the Supreme Bath","lookup_keywords":["viṣṇu-pādodaka","caraṇāmṛta","tīrtha-snāna","padma-utpala-kadamba","śauca"],"quick_summary":"Among all ritual baths, bathing with water that has washed Viṣṇu’s feet is declared supreme; it is enhanced with auspicious flowers and sanctifying substances for śauca and puṇya."}
Concept: Śuddhi through bhagavat-sambandha: contact with Viṣṇu’s sanctified water is held to surpass ordinary external purifications.
Application: Use caraṇāmṛta in daily pūjā and vrata baths as a culminating purification, especially before japa, homa, and darśana.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tirtha-snāna and purification rites)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee prepares a ritual bath with lotus, blue-lotus, and kadamba flowers; a priest offers caraṇāmṛta/Viṣṇu-pādodaka into a bathing vessel, emphasizing its supremacy among baths.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, ornate borders; priest holding a golden kalaśa of Viṣṇu-pādodaka, lotus and utpala garlands, serene tīrtha-snāna setting, traditional jewelry and textiles, sacred water shimmering","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with rich gold leaf; central kalaśa labeled caraṇāmṛta, lotus and kadamba flowers in relief, devotee in añjali, temple lamp glow, heavy ornamentation and embossed halos","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework; instructional arrangement of snāna items—padma, utpala, kadamba, water vessel—priest pouring Viṣṇu-pādodaka into bath, calm devotional interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing; courtyard ablution scene with attendants holding flower trays, a small vessel of sacred foot-washed water, subtle architectural arches, naturalistic lotus rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पद्मोत्पलकदम्बैश् → पद्मोत्पलकदम्बैः; सर्वस्नानेभ्य → सर्वस्नानेभ्यः. समासाः: पद्म-उत्पल-कदम्ब (द्वन्द्व), बला-द्रुम-उदक (तत्पुरुष), विष्णु-पाद-उदक-स्नान (तत्पुरुष), सर्व-स्नान (तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 266 (pūjā-vidhi, tīrtha, snāna, rakṣā)
FAQs
It teaches a snāna-vidhi hierarchy: bathing with viṣṇupādodaka (caraṇāmṛta/tīrtha—water sanctified by washing Viṣṇu’s feet) is declared superior to all other ritual baths, and it notes supportive ritual substances like lotus-family flowers and balā-tree water.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s catalog-like treatment of practical dharma: it classifies purification practices, specifies ritual materials (flowers, sacred water), and even touches an Ayurveda-adjacent ingredient (balā) within a liturgical context—showing how ritual, theology, and applied knowledge interlock.
The verse assigns the highest purificatory merit to viṣṇupādodaka-snāna, implying exceptional śuddhi (purity), śrī (auspicious fortune), and spiritual uplift compared to ordinary baths.