Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Purification Concerning the Unsanctified
Asaṃskṛta) and Related Cases (असंस्कृतादिशौचम्
अनुग्रहेण महता प्रेतस्य पतितस्य च नारायणबलिः कार्यस्तेनानुग्रहमश्नुते
anugraheṇa mahatā pretasya patitasya ca nārāyaṇabaliḥ kāryastenānugrahamaśnute
మహా కరుణతో ప్రేతునికీ, పతితునికీ కూడా నారాయణబలి చేయవలెను; ఆ కర్మవలన దివ్య అనుగ్రహం లభిస్తుంది।
Lord Agni (teaching the ritual discipline of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Perform Narayana-bali as an expiatory funerary rite to relieve preta-condition and secure auspicious gati for the departed, including those considered patita.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nārāyaṇa-bali for Preta and Patita","lookup_keywords":["Nārāyaṇa-bali","preta-kriyā","patita","antyeṣṭi","anugraha"],"quick_summary":"Nārāyaṇa-bali is prescribed as a compassionate remedial rite for a departed spirit, even if fallen; its intended fruit is divine grace and relief from adverse post-death states."}
Concept: Dayā (compassion) expressed through prescribed rites can become a means of anugraha (grace) for the departed.
Application: Undertake remedial rites without contempt for the deceased’s prior faults; prioritize dharmic compassion in post-death duties.
Khanda Section: Śrāddha & Antyeṣṭi-vidhi (Preta-kriyā, Narāyaṇa-bali rites)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn Narayana-bali rite: a priest conducts offerings for a preta, invoking Narayana’s grace; family members sit with folded hands near a ritual altar with vessels, darbha, and offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, priest performing Nārāyaṇa-bali before a stylized Viṣṇu presence, ritual vessels and darbha clearly shown, solemn family figures, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central Viṣṇu/Janārdana as the focus of anugraha, priest and yajña-vedi below, ornate arch and halo, rich reds and greens, devotional solemnity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, detailed instructional depiction of the rite setup—altar, kalasha, offerings, priest gestures—soft shading, clean lines, calm domestic ritual setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet intimate funerary-rite scene with fine textiles, precise ritual implements, subdued palette, expressive faces showing compassion and gravity"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कायर्स्तेनानुग्रहमश्नुते = कार्यः तेन अनुग्रहम् अश्नुते; नारायणबलिः (समास) = नारायणस्य बलिः; महता अनुग्रहेण (विशेषण-विशेष्य).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Śrāddha-vidhi sections; Agni Purana: Antyeṣṭi/Preta-kriyā prakaraṇa; Agni Purana: Prāyaścitta-related passages
FAQs
It prescribes Narāyaṇa-bali as a specific śānti/expiatory rite to be performed for a preta, including cases involving a patita (religiously “fallen” person), emphasizing ritual eligibility and remedial application.
By codifying specialized death-ritual procedures (preta-śānti and bali-vidhi) alongside broader dharma topics, it shows the Agni Purana’s practical coverage of rites, expiations, and household ritual law.
Performing Narāyaṇa-bali is presented as a grace-bestowing remedy that supports pacification and upliftment of the departed, extending purificatory benefit even where heavy demerit (patitatva) is implied.