Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 10
प्रयागमाहात्म्यम्
The Greatness of Prayāga
वासुकेर्भोगवत्यत्र हंसप्रपतनं परं गवां कोटिप्रदानाद्यत् त्र्यहं स्नानस्य तत्फलं
vāsukerbhogavatyatra haṃsaprapatanaṃ paraṃ gavāṃ koṭipradānādyat tryahaṃ snānasya tatphalaṃ
ณ ที่นี่ ในโภควตีของวาสุกิ ได้สรรเสริญทิรถะอันสูงสุดชื่อ ‘หังส-ประปตนะ’ ผลแห่งการอาบน้ำที่นั่นติดต่อกันสามวัน เสมอด้วยผลแห่งทานใหญ่ เช่น การถวายโคหนึ่งโกฏิ (สิบล้านตัว)
Lord Agni (narrating the tirtha-mahatmya to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Guidance for tirtha-observance: undertaking a three-day bath at the named tirtha to obtain merit equated with massive cow-donation, useful for planning vrata-like pilgrimage schedules.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhogavati of Vasuki: Hamsa-prapatana Tirtha and Tri-ahna Snana Phala","lookup_keywords":["Vasuki","Bhogavati","Hamsa-prapatana","tri-aha snana","go-koti dana"],"quick_summary":"The verse identifies a specific tirtha associated with Vasuki and teaches a merit-equivalence: three days of bathing there yields fruit comparable to donating ten million cows."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti
Concept: Ritual substitution and accessibility: intense merit can be obtained through disciplined snana-vrata at a potent kshetra, paralleling otherwise unattainable grand donations.
Application: Adopt a tri-aha snana regimen (three consecutive days) with restraint and japa as a feasible alternative to large-scale dana.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shraddha
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred water-fall/ford named Hamsa-prapatana near Bhogavati; Vasuki’s presence is suggested beneath/near the waters, while pilgrims perform three-day bathing; cows and gifts appear symbolically to show merit equivalence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic water descent with a white hamsa motif above, naga-king Vasuki with multi-hoods emerging from stylized waves, pilgrims bathing at dawn, symbolic cow-gift imagery in side panels, bold colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Hamsa-prapatana waterfall with gold highlights, Vasuki as ornate naga with jeweled hoods, pilgrims in prayerful snana, miniature golden cows arranged as symbolic dana, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear narrative: day 1-2-3 bathing sequence along the same ghat, Vasuki icon subtly in background shrine, hamsa emblem overhead, fine linework and gentle tones","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scenic cascade and riverside, naga figure rendered mythically yet elegant, pilgrims bathing with attendants, symbolic herd of cows in a corner vignette, detailed landscape and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वासुकेर्भोगवत्यत्र→वासुकेः + भोगवती + अत्र. कोटिप्रदानाद्यत्→कोटि + प्रदानात् + यत्. त्र्यहं→त्रि + अहम् (i.e., त्र्यहम्). तत्फलं→तत् + फलम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 111.7; Agni Purana 111.9
FAQs
It prescribes a tīrtha-snāna practice: bathing for three consecutive days at the Haṃsa-prapatana ford at Bhogavatī (associated with Vāsuki), and states its quantified merit by comparison with major dāna (charitable gifting).
It catalogues sacred geography (tīrthas) and assigns measurable religious outcomes (phala-śruti), integrating pilgrimage, ritual purity, and charity—one of the Agni Purana’s many practical knowledge domains alongside law, worship procedure, and statecraft.
The verse teaches that concentrated purification through three-day tīrtha bathing can yield extraordinary puṇya—ritually equated with the immense merit of donating ten million cows—highlighting the power of sacred-place observance to cleanse karma and accrue spiritual merit.