Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 45
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
यथा यज्ञेश्वरो विष्णुर्देवेष्वपि हि गीयते सत्येन तेन सकलं यन्मयोक्तं तथास्तु तत्
yathā yajñeśvaro viṣṇurdeveṣvapi hi gīyate satyena tena sakalaṃ yanmayoktaṃ tathāstu tat
ดุจดังที่พระวิษณุทรงได้รับการสรรเสริญแม้ในหมู่เทพทั้งหลายว่าเป็น “ยัชเญศวร” เจ้าแห่งยัญพิธี ด้วยสัจจะนั้น ขอถ้อยคำทั้งปวงที่ข้าพเจ้าได้กล่าวไว้จงสำเร็จเป็นจริงดังนั้นเถิด
Lord Agni (narrator of the Agni Purana, concluding with a satya-vacana style affirmation)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Used as a satya-saṅkalpa (truth-affirmation) at the close of a rite to seal the efficacy of the recitation and offerings.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Satya-pratijñā for Yajñeśvara Viṣṇu","lookup_keywords":["Yajñeśvara","Viṣṇu","satya","tathāstu","saṅkalpa"],"quick_summary":"Affirms Viṣṇu as Lord of sacrifice and employs truth (satya) as the ritual force to make the stated intention succeed."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (yathā... tathā)
Concept: Satya as śakti in yajña—truthfulness empowers mantra and resolves saṅkalpa.
Application: Conclude worship with a truth-based ‘tathāstu’ to stabilize intention and remove doubt (saṅkalpa-daurbalya).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yajna-stuti (Ritual praise and truth-affirmation)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist concluding a yajña, hands in añjali, invoking Viṣṇu as Lord of sacrifice; altar fire glowing, offerings completed, the words ‘tathāstu’ implied as a sealing gesture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, yajña-vedi with sacred fire, priest in white, Viṣṇu as Yajñeśvara subtly present in aura behind the altar, warm ochres and reds, stylized flames, serene śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu as Yajñeśvara with ornate crown and gold leaf halo, miniature yajña altar below, priest offering āhuti, rich jewel tones, heavy gold work emphasizing ‘satya’ blessing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual closure scene: priest facing fire altar, gesture of saṅkalpa and ‘tathāstu’, clean lines, soft shading, labeled ritual items (sruk, sruva, ājya).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yajña pavilion with detailed textiles, small fire altar, Brahmin reciter concluding with ‘tathāstu’, Viṣṇu suggested as symbolic emblem above, fine brushwork and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇur → viṣṇuḥ; deveṣvapi → deveṣu api; yanmayoktaṃ → yat mayā uktam; tathāstu → tathā astu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 31 (Kuśāpamārjana context); Agni Purana 32 (transition to saṃskāras)
FAQs
It teaches a satya-vacana (truth-affirmation) closure: invoking an acknowledged truth (Viṣṇu as Yajñeśvara) to seal and efficaciously confirm the preceding ritual teaching or statement—functionally akin to a ritual ‘may it be fulfilled’ formula.
Beyond listing rites, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical devices—like concluding truth-acts used to validate prayers, vows, and ritual recitations—showing not only doctrine but also the operational language of ritual performance.
A satya-vacana is traditionally held to strengthen the merit and efficacy of a rite: by aligning speech with truth, the practitioner’s intention is purified and the stated outcome is invoked to manifest without obstruction.