Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 3
अध्याय ११७ — श्राद्धकल्पः
The Procedure for Śrāddha
यतीन् गृहस्थसाधून् वा स्नातकाञ्छ्रोत्रियान् द्विजान् अनवद्यान् कर्मनिष्ठान् शिष्टानाचारसंयुतान्
yatīn gṛhasthasādhūn vā snātakāñchrotriyān dvijān anavadyān karmaniṣṭhān śiṣṭānācārasaṃyutān
พึงนอบน้อมบูชาฤๅษีผู้บำเพ็ญตบะหรือคฤหัสถ์ผู้มีศีล ตลอดจนผู้เป็นสนาตกะ ศฺโรตริยะ และทวิชผู้ปราศจากมลทิน—ผู้มั่นคงในกรณียกิจ เป็นผู้สุภาพ และประกอบด้วยอาจาระอันถูกต้อง
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in dharma and proper conduct)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Defines eligible and honorable recipients/participants for śrāddha hospitality—ascetics, virtuous householders, snātakas, śrotriyas—emphasizing character and conduct as criteria.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pātra-lakṣaṇa: worthy invitees for Śrāddha","lookup_keywords":["pātra lakṣaṇa","yati","snātaka","śrotriya","ācāra"],"quick_summary":"Select invitees based on learning, purity, and conduct: ascetics or virtuous householders, snātakas, śrotriyas, and blameless dvijas devoted to duty and good ācāra."}
Concept: Dāna and śrāddha bear fruit according to pātra (recipient fitness); ācāra and karma-niṣṭhā are decisive.
Application: When inviting for śrāddha, prioritize integrity, Vedic competence, and disciplined conduct over mere social status.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Achara (conduct, hospitality, and ethics of honoring the worthy)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Dharma-vīra (ethical firmness)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder respectfully welcomes a line of worthy invitees—an ascetic, a snātaka, and a śrotriya—offering seats and water, emphasizing decorum and honor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dignified procession of yati with staff, snātaka with sacred thread and water-pot, śrotriya with palm-leaf Veda; host offering arghya, stylized architecture and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: host honoring three archetypal invitees with gold-highlighted halos and ornate seating; rich textiles, ritual vessels with gold work, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional grouping labeled by role (yati, snātaka, śrotriya), host offering pādya/arghya; soft colors, precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined hospitality scene in a courtyard with carpets and vessels; distinct costumes for ascetic and learned brāhmaṇas; detailed gestures of welcome."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्नातकाञ्छ्रोत्रियान् → स्नातकान् + श्रोत्रियान् (न् + श् → ञ्छ्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 117 (pātra-doṣa and pātra-guṇa passages around invitation/eligibility)
FAQs
It identifies the categories of persons considered worthy of satkāra (formal honoring)—yatis, virtuous householders, snātakas, and śrotriyas—emphasizing ritual-ethical criteria such as blamelessness and steadiness in prescribed duties.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana codifies social-religious practice: who should be respected and supported, and what qualifications (ācāra, karma-niṣṭhā, śiṣṭatā) define an authoritative, dharmic community.
Honoring the irreproachable and duty-bound is presented as dharmic alignment: it supports Vedic learning and disciplined living, generating merit (puṇya) through reverence toward those established in right conduct.