Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 41
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
त्वं मे साक्षी भवाद्येह अनृणो ऽहमृणत्रयात् द्धबुद्धियुक्तमिति घ , छ च कालार्तिनाशनमिति घ कालार्तिदलनमिति ग , ङ , घ , ज च पालिताखिलदेवेशमिति घ स्थिततरमिति ग , घ , ङ च वन्देहमरिमर्दनमिति ङ वन्दे संसारमर्दनमिति ज साक्षिणः सन्तु मे देवा ब्रह्मेशानादयस् तथा
tvaṃ me sākṣī bhavādyeha anṛṇo 'hamṛṇatrayāt ddhabuddhiyuktamiti gha , cha ca kālārtināśanamiti gha kālārtidalanamiti ga , ṅa , gha , ja ca pālitākhiladeveśamiti gha sthitataramiti ga , gha , ṅa ca vandehamarimardanamiti ṅa vande saṃsāramardanamiti ja sākṣiṇaḥ santu me devā brahmeśānādayas tathā
ขอพระองค์ทรงเป็นพยานแก่ข้าพเจ้า ณ ที่นี้และบัดนี้ เพื่อให้ข้าพเจ้าพ้นจากหนี้สามประการ คือหนี้ต่อเทพ หนี้ต่อฤๅษี และหนี้ต่อบรรพชน (ในบางสำนวนมีว่า “ผู้มีปัญญามั่นคง”; “ผู้ทำลาย/ผู้บดขยี้ความทุกข์แห่งกาล”; “ผู้พิทักษ์สรรพสิ่ง เป็นเจ้าแห่งเทพ”; “ผู้มั่นคงยิ่ง”; “ข้าพเจ้าขอนอบน้อมแด่ผู้ปราบศัตรู”; “ข้าพเจ้าขอนอบน้อมแด่ผู้ปราบสังสารวัฏ”.) และขอให้เหล่าเทพคือพระพรหม พระอีศานะ (พระศิวะ) เป็นต้น จงเป็นพยานแก่ข้าพเจ้าด้วย।
Lord Agni (narrating the mantra/rite) to the sage Vasiṣṭha (frame setting of Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Witness-invocation (sākṣī-bhāva) and prāyaścitta framing to become free of the three debts (ṛṇa-traya) during śrāddha/ritual acts; also preserves recension-variants for liturgical use.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Sākṣī-mantra for Ṛṇa-traya-śodhana (Devatā-witness in rites)","lookup_keywords":["sākṣī","ṛṇa-traya","prāyaścitta","Brahmā","Īśāna"],"quick_summary":"A ritual formula asking the deity and the assembly of gods to bear witness so the performer becomes free from the threefold debts; includes recognized variant readings used in different recensions."}
Concept: Ṛṇa-traya (deva-ṛṣi-pitṛ debts) is discharged through disciplined life and rites; invoking divine witness strengthens saṅkalpa and accountability.
Application: Before/after śrāddha, state intention clearly, invoke sākṣitva, and complete duties to gods (yajña), sages (svādhyāya), and ancestors (śrāddha) without negligence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Stotra-Mantra (Prāyaścitta, Sākṣī-bhāva, Devatā-sākṣya)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist stands with folded hands, declaring the deity as witness; behind, Brahmā and Īśāna with other gods appear as subtle luminous witnesses above the ritual space, emphasizing solemn accountability.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: devotee/priest in ritual posture, sacred fire or śrāddha setup below, celestial witnesses (Brahmā four-faced, Īśāna/Śiva) in upper register, stylized clouds and halos, strong outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central witnessing deity (Viṣṇu or chosen iṣṭa) with gold halo; side medallions of Brahmā and Īśāna; foreground shows saṅkalpa gesture with water in palm; heavy gold embossing for divine witness motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition—ritualist performing saṅkalpa, text-cartouche for “tvam me sākṣī bhava”, faint divine figures above; fine linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate indoor ritual scene with a hovering celestial assembly as witnesses; delicate architectural frame, calligraphic panels indicating variant readings, refined detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भवाद्येह = भव + अद्य + इह. अनृणो 'हम् = अनृणः + अहम्. अहम् ऋणत्रयात् (अहमृणत्रयात् संधि). मध्यभागे पाठान्तर-सूचनाः (ddhabuddhiyuktamiti..., kālārtināśanamiti...) इत्यादयः टीका/पाठभेद-निर्देशाः, श्लोक-पदानि न गण्यन्ते।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (prāyaścitta/sākṣī framing around Gayā rites)
FAQs
It gives a sāksī-invocation used in ritual speech: the practitioner calls the deity (and the assembly of gods) as witnesses and seeks release from ṛṇa-traya—obligations to gods (sacrifice), sages (study), and ancestors (progeny/rites).
Alongside theology, it preserves applied ritual formulae (mantra-prayoga) and dharma concepts like ṛṇa-traya, while also recording multiple manuscript epithets—showing the text’s role as a compendium of liturgy, doctrine, and transmission variants.
Invoking divine witnesses formalizes truthfulness and intention (saṅkalpa) and frames the act as karmically purifying—aimed at discharging fundamental life-obligations and seeking protection from time-born afflictions and the bondage of saṃsāra.