Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 1
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अथर्वविधानं नामैकषष्ट्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः क्रुद्धं भूपं प्रसादयेदिति घ , ज , झ च अथ द्विषष्ठ्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः उत्पातशान्तिः पुष्कर उवाच श्रीसूक्तं प्रतिवेदञ्च ज्ञेयं लक्ष्मीविवर्धनं हिरण्यवर्णा हरिणीमृचः पञ्चदश श्रियः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe atharvavidhānaṃ nāmaikaṣaṣṭyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ kruddhaṃ bhūpaṃ prasādayediti gha , ja , jha ca atha dviṣaṣṭhyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ utpātaśāntiḥ puṣkara uvāca śrīsūktaṃ prativedañca jñeyaṃ lakṣmīvivardhanaṃ hiraṇyavarṇā hariṇīmṛcaḥ pañcadaśa śriyaḥ
ఇట్లు అగ్ని మహాపురాణంలో ‘అథర్వవిధానం’ అనే 261వ అధ్యాయం (మరియు ‘క్రోధించిన రాజును ప్రసన్నం చేయాలి’ అని ఘ, జ, ఝ గుర్తుల భాగాలు) ఉంది. ఇప్పుడు 262వ అధ్యాయం ‘ఉత్పాతశాంతి’ ప్రారంభం. పుష్కరుడు అన్నాడు—శ్రీసూక్తం, ప్రతివేదం లక్ష్మీ వృద్ధికరమని తెలుసుకోవాలి; ‘హిరణ్యవర్ణా’ మొదలైన పదిహేను ఋక్కులు శ్రీసూక్తమే।
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Utpāta-śānti and śrī-vardhana rites: using Śrīsūkta with prativeda as a prosperity-increasing and omen-pacifying recitation; also includes political-ritual appeasement of an enraged ruler.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śrīsūkta (15 ṛk ‘hiraṇyavarṇā…’) for Utpātaśānti and Lakṣmī-vivardhana","lookup_keywords":["Utpātaśānti","Śrīsūkta","hiraṇyavarṇā","prativeda","Lakṣmī-vivardhana"],"quick_summary":"Identifies Śrīsūkta—fifteen ṛks beginning ‘hiraṇyavarṇā’—as a Lakṣmī-increasing Vedic hymn, to be known/used with supplementary recitation for pacifying portents and securing prosperity."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (phonetic recurrence typical of Vedic stuti)
Concept: Śānti through mantra: portents and social/political turbulence are addressed by Vedic recitation aligned to Śrī (order, abundance, auspiciousness).
Application: Employ Śrīsūkta as a standard śānti-pāṭha in times of ominous signs, instability, or for prosperity-invocation in household/temple rites.
Khanda Section: Ritual Manuals (Atharva-vidhāna) & Utpāta-śānti (Omens and Pacification Rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Puṣkara teaches a śānti rite: a small altar, offerings prepared, and a manuscript/scroll showing the opening words ‘hiraṇyavarṇā…’; the atmosphere is auspicious, aimed at pacifying ominous signs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Lakṣmī as golden-hued presence behind Puṣkara, śānti-homa altar, palm-leaf text with ‘hiraṇyavarṇā’, traditional flat perspective, rich ochres and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Lakṣmī motif implied by golden aura, Puṣkara reciting, ornate altar vessels, heavy gold leaf accents emphasizing ‘hiraṇya’ (gold) theme","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: Puṣkara pointing to 15-verse list, neat ritual implements for śānti, soft shading, clarity of procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest reciting to a patron household, subtle depiction of ominous signs outside (dark clouds/birds) being pacified, fine detailing of manuscript and altar"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye ← iti + āgneye; nāmaika- ← nāma + eka-; 'dhyāyaḥ ← adhyāyaḥ with avagraha; prasādayediti ← prasādayet + iti; prativedañca ← prativedam + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 262 (Utpātaśānti section); Agni Purāṇa 261 (Atharvavidhāna context)
FAQs
It identifies Utpāta-śānti (pacifying ominous portents) and prescribes Śrīsūkta recitation—specifically the fifteen ṛk-verses beginning “hiraṇyavarṇā”—as a prosperity-enhancing (lakṣmī-vivardhana) rite, along with a supplementary Vedic recitation (prativeda).
It bridges multiple domains—Atharva-style ritual procedure, political pragmatics (appeasing an angry ruler), and omen-pacification—showing how the Agni Purana compiles applied liturgy, statecraft-adjacent counsel, and Vedic hymnology within a single textual continuum.
Recitation of the Śrīsūkta is presented as a dhārmic means to restore auspiciousness, counteract inauspicious signs, and cultivate Śrī (prosperity and well-being), implying merit through Vedic devotion and ritual rectification of adverse omens.