Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 15
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
किं तीर्थैर् गोप्रदानैर् वा किं यज्ञैः किमुपोषितैः आग्नेयं ये हि शृण्वन्ति अहन्यहनि मानवाः
kiṃ tīrthair gopradānair vā kiṃ yajñaiḥ kimupoṣitaiḥ āgneyaṃ ye hi śṛṇvanti ahanyahani mānavāḥ
தீர்த்தங்களோ, கோதானமோ எதற்கு? யாகங்களோ, நோன்புகளோ எதற்காக? நாள்தோறும் அக்னி புராணத்தைச் செவிமடுப்போர் மனிதர்க்கு மேலும் எந்த அனுஷ்டானம் வேண்டுமோ?
Lord Agni (narrator of the Agni Purana, addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Daily śravaṇa (listening) of the Purāṇa as a substitute/culmination for common merit-making observances like tīrtha-yātrā, dāna, yajña, and upavāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śravaṇa-mahātmyam: Agni Purāṇa as sufficient sādhanā","lookup_keywords":["śravaṇa-phala","tīrtha-yātrā","yajña","upavāsa","Agni Purāṇa"],"quick_summary":"Regular listening to the Agni Purāṇa is praised as rendering other external observances non-essential for merit. The verse frames śravaṇa as a high-efficiency dharma-practice for householders."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (supporting assertion via rhetorical questioning)
Concept: Antarmukha-dharma: śravaṇa as a direct purifier and merit-generator beyond ritual multiplicity.
Application: Establish a daily routine of Purāṇa-śravaṇa/paṭhana (even brief), especially when travel, wealth, or ritual resources are limited.
Khanda Section: Phala-shruti (Merit of Hearing/Recitation of the Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village or temple courtyard where a paurāṇika recites the Agni Purāṇa to attentive listeners; in the background, symbolic icons of pilgrimage, cow-gift, sacrifice fire, and fasting are shown as secondary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, paurāṇika seated on a wooden vyāsapīṭha, palm-leaf manuscript, listeners in traditional attire, warm earthy reds and ochres, subtle symbols of yajña-kuṇḍa and tīrtha-ghaṭa in the margins, devotional calm","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halo around the reciter and manuscript, ornate arch frame, devotees seated with folded hands, small vignettes of cow-dāna and yajña rendered as gilded motifs, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional tableau: reciter pointing to manuscript, listeners in rows, labeled symbolic panels showing 'tīrtha', 'dāna', 'yajña', 'upavāsa' as optional, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly assembly listening to a learned reciter, detailed textiles and architecture, marginal mini-scenes of pilgrimage and sacrifice, fine brushwork, subdued contemplative mood"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तीर्थैर्→तीर्थैः; गोप्रदानैर्→गो-प्रदानैः; किमुपोषितैः→किम् उपोषितैः; अहन्यहनि→अहनि अहनि (पुनरुक्त-अव्यय).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 382 (phala-śruti section); Agni Purāṇa sections on dāna-dharma and vrata (general)
FAQs
It teaches the ritual principle of śravaṇa (devotional hearing): regular listening to the Agni Purana is presented as a complete, merit-generating practice that can stand in for multiple external rites.
By asserting that daily engagement with the Agni Purana itself yields comprehensive religious benefit, it frames the text as a single, all-in-one compendium whose contents cover and integrate many disciplines and observances.
The verse elevates steady, daily śravaṇa as highly purifying and merit-bestowing—implying that consistent contact with sacred teaching can equal or surpass the karmic fruits of pilgrimage, donations, sacrifice, and fasting.