Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 35
Chapter 114 — Gayā-māhātmya
The Greatness of Gayā
मादादिगदाधर इत्य् अन्तः पाठो ज पुस्तके नास्ति शिलायान्तु इति ज वाञ्छितो ह्य् अहमिति ख , छ च दातुमर्हथेति ङ तीर्थस्य कारणायेति घ , झ च ग्रामान् पुण्यगिरीनिति ङ दध्याद्यैर् बहूनन्नादिपर्वतानिति ज कामधेनुं कल्पतरुं स्वर्णरूप्यगृहाणि च न याचयन्तु विप्रेन्द्रा अल्पानुक्त्वा ददौ प्रभुः
mādādigadādhara ity antaḥ pāṭho ja pustake nāsti śilāyāntu iti ja vāñchito hy ahamiti kha , cha ca dātumarhatheti ṅa tīrthasya kāraṇāyeti gha , jha ca grāmān puṇyagirīniti ṅa dadhyādyair bahūnannādiparvatāniti ja kāmadhenuṃ kalpataruṃ svarṇarūpyagṛhāṇi ca na yācayantu viprendrā alpānuktvā dadau prabhuḥ
พระผู้เป็นเจ้าเอ่ยเพียงเล็กน้อยแล้วประทานกามเธนุ ต้นกัลปตฤกษ์ และเรือนทองเรือนเงิน; พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐทั้งหลายก็มิได้ขอสิ่งใด
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic dharma-kathā; the ‘Prabhu’ is the divine bestower within the episode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Models ideal donor–recipient ethics: the Lord grants extraordinary boons (Kāmadhenu, Kalpataru, precious houses) while exemplary brāhmaṇas refrain from begging—teaching restraint and dignity in dāna contexts.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Dāna-Śīla: Non-begging Recipients and Supreme Gifts (Kāmadhenu, Kalpataru)","lookup_keywords":["Kāmadhenu","Kalpataru","dāna","ayācita","brāhmaṇa"],"quick_summary":"The passage contrasts lavish divine giving with the virtue of recipients who do not solicit; it frames dāna as most pure when unasked and given with discernment."}
Alamkara Type: Lakshanā
Concept: Ayācita-dāna (unrequested giving) and alobha (non-greed) as purifiers of both giver and receiver.
Application: As a recipient, avoid solicitation; as a donor, give proactively and respectfully, without coercion or display, prioritizing worthy recipients.
Khanda Section: Dāna-Dharma (Charity and Merit of Gifts; Tīrtha and Land/Wealth Donations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The Lord bestows Kāmadhenu, Kalpataru, and gold-silver houses; brāhmaṇa elders stand with folded hands, not asking for anything, embodying restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central divine figure presenting Kāmadhenu and a jewel-laden Kalpataru, brāhmaṇas in calm posture with añjali, stylized gold-and-silver houses in background, bold outlines and warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, opulent composition with heavy gold leaf: Kāmadhenu adorned, Kalpataru sparkling, miniature gold and silver mansions, serene brāhmaṇas refusing to beg, ornate borders and haloed figures.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined linework: symbolic icons (cow, tree, houses) arranged like a didactic panel, inscriptions for ‘Kāmadhenu’ and ‘Kalpataru’, gentle expressions of non-asking recipients.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, gift-giving court scene with celestial cow and wish-tree presented as marvels, brāhmaṇas dignified and reserved, architectural detail for precious houses, fine gold detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse text contains extensive critical apparatus; analyzed only the main continuous pāda: ‘kāmadhenuṃ kalpataruṃ svarṇarūpyagṛhāṇi ca na yācayantu viprendrā alpān uktvā dadau prabhuḥ’. ‘viprendrā’ taken as vocative plural (viprendraḥ → viprendrāḥ in some recensions).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 114 (dāna and tīrtha merit narrative)
FAQs
It conveys dāna-dharma etiquette: the ideal recipient (vipra) does not solicit, while the giver bestows abundant gifts—symbolized by Kāmadhenu and Kalpataru—indicating inexhaustible, merit-generating generosity.
Alongside rituals and sacred geography, it documents ethical norms of religious economy—how gifts, recipients, and intention function—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of social dharma as a practical knowledge system.
Non-asking by the worthy and voluntary giving by the donor together maximize puṇya (religious merit), presenting generosity as a purifier that yields auspicious results both materially and spiritually.
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