Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
द्विविद्यारूपको विष्णुरग्निरूपस्तु गीयते परमात्मा देवमुखं सर्ववेदेषु गीयते
dvividyārūpako viṣṇuragnirūpastu gīyate paramātmā devamukhaṃ sarvavedeṣu gīyate
วิษณุได้รับการสรรเสริญว่าเป็นรูปแห่งวิทยาศักดิ์สิทธิ์สองประการ และยังถูกยกย่องว่าเป็นรูปแห่งอัคนีด้วย ในฐานะปรมาตมัน พระองค์ถูกประกาศว่าเป็น ‘ปากของเหล่าเทพ’ ดังที่ขับร้องไว้ในพระเวททั้งปวง.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Contemplative upāsanā: meditate on Viṣṇu as the unity of knowledge (twofold vidyā) and as Agni—the divine mouth receiving offerings—integrating jñāna and yajña.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Viṣṇu as Dvi-vidyā-rūpa and Agni-rūpa; Agni as Devamukha","lookup_keywords":["dvi-vidyā","Viṣṇu Agni-rūpa","paramātman","devamukha","sarva-veda"],"quick_summary":"The verse defines a theological identity: Viṣṇu embodies twofold sacred knowledge and is praised as Agni; as Paramātman he is ‘the mouth of the gods,’ a Vedic epithet grounding ritual and metaphysical unity."}
Concept: Non-dual theological synthesis: the Supreme Self is praised through multiple upādhis—knowledge (vidyā) and sacrificial fire (Agni)—showing that ritual ‘mouth’ and metaphysical ‘Self’ converge in Viṣṇu.
Application: Use the teaching to reconcile pravṛtti (yajña/karma) with nivṛtti (jñāna): perform offerings with the understanding that the receiver is the same Paramātman.
Khanda Section: Vedic-Theology (Agni–Vishnu Tattva / Devatā-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic tableau: Viṣṇu radiating as a flame-bodied form (Agni-rūpa), with Vedic seers chanting; offerings rise into the fire, labeled as reaching the ‘mouth of the gods,’ while a subtle aura indicates Paramātman beyond form.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu with serene face emerging from stylized sacred fire, rishis holding palm-leaf Vedas chanting, yajña-kuṇḍa foreground, bold outlines, warm reds/oranges, sacred inscriptions motif for ‘devamukha’.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu seated with a flaming aureole (Agni-rūpa), gold-leaf highlights on flames and ornaments, small yajña altar below, rishis in reverence, ornate arch framing ‘Paramātman’ symbolism.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: left side Vedic chant (ṛṣis with manuscripts), center Agni flame, within flame a subtle Viṣṇu form, clean lines and soft colors, emphasis on conceptual clarity over ornament.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly of rishis in a pavilion, central fire altar, a luminous anthropomorphic flame suggesting Viṣṇu, fine detailing of manuscripts and ritual vessels, balanced composition with calligraphic border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णुरग्निरूपस्तु = विष्णुः + अग्निरूपः + तु; द्विविद्यारूपकः = द्वि + विद्या + रूपकः; परमात्मा = परम + आत्मा; सर्ववेदेषु = सर्व + वेदेषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa sections on Agni–Viṣṇu identity; Agni Purāṇa discussions of pravṛtti/nivṛtti upāsanā (adjacent verses)
FAQs
It identifies Agni as the operative ritual principle—“devamukha” (the gods’ mouth) through which offerings are conveyed—and equates this sacrificial function with Viṣṇu’s supreme reality.
Alongside practical disciplines, the Agni Purana repeatedly anchors ritual technology (yajña, Agni as the conveyor of offerings) in a unifying theology (Viṣṇu/Paramātman), integrating liturgy, metaphysics, and Vedic authority.
By recognizing Agni’s sacrificial role as non-different from the Supreme Self, the practitioner’s worship is framed as directed to Paramātman, enhancing the sanctity and purificatory merit of Vedic offerings.