Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
शारीरं मे हृषीकेश पुण्डरीकाक्ष माधव पापं प्रशमयाद्य त्वं बाक्कृतं मम माधव
śārīraṃ me hṛṣīkeśa puṇḍarīkākṣa mādhava pāpaṃ praśamayādya tvaṃ bākkṛtaṃ mama mādhava
โอ้ หฤษีเกศะ โอ้ ปุณฑรีกากษะ โอ้ มาธวะ—ขอพระองค์ทรงระงับบาปแห่งกายของข้าพเจ้า และบาปที่กระทำด้วยวาจาในวันนี้ด้วยเถิด โอ้ มาธวะ.
Devotee/Narrated prayer within Agni Purana (stotra-style address to Vishnu; framed in Agni’s instruction to Vasiṣṭha in the broader dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Daily purification prayer addressing pāpa of body and speech; used as prāyaścitta before pūjā, japa, or sleep.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śarīra-vāk-pāpa-śamana prayer to Hṛṣīkeśa–Puṇḍarīkākṣa–Mādhava","lookup_keywords":["śarīra-pāpa","vāk-pāpa","prāyaścitta","Mādhava","śamana"],"quick_summary":"A direct supplication to Viṣṇu to pacify sins accrued through bodily acts and speech, emphasizing immediate (adya) purification."}
Alamkara Type: Punaranukaraṇa (repetition of vocatives)
Concept: Accountability of karma through kāya and vāk; purification sought through īśvara-prasāda and self-restraint.
Application: Pair the prayer with vows: truthful, non-harmful speech (satya, ahiṃsā), and mindful bodily conduct before ritual acts.
Khanda Section: Stotra & Prāyaścitta (Vishnu-bhakti and purification prayers)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee before a small Viṣṇu shrine, palms joined, with symbolic motifs of body and speech—hands (action) and a subtle scroll/letters (speech)—being washed by a stream of light from Viṣṇu.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu in shrine niche, devotee in añjali, stylized white-gold rays cleansing the devotee’s hands and mouth area, temple lamp, traditional border patterns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu with gold halo, devotee kneeling, embossed gold rays touching the devotee’s lips and hands, rich maroon background, ornate arch (prabhāmaṇḍala).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean composition: shrine, devotee, labeled elements 'kāya' and 'vāk' in small Devanāgarī cartouches, soft colors, didactic tone.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard shrine scene, fine textiles, calligraphic scroll near the devotee symbolizing speech, luminous aura from Viṣṇu indicating purification, delicate detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बाक्कृतं = वाक् + कृतं (तत्पुरुष; वाक् + कृत → वाक्कृत, लिखिते ‘बाक्कृत’).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172 (prāyaścitta prayers; nāma-smaraṇa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a prāyaścitta-bhakti application: invoking Viṣṇu by specific epithets to pacify sins arising from bodily actions (kāyika) and speech (vācika).
Alongside law, rites, and sciences, the Agni Purana preserves practical devotional formulas (stotras) used for purification—showing its coverage of applied spirituality and ritual remedy (pāpa-śamana) traditions.
It recognizes distinct karmic channels (body and speech) and seeks their immediate pacification through surrender to Viṣṇu, aligning repentance and devotion with inner purification.