Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9

न्यूनादिदोषमोषार्थं हेतितो जुहुयाच्च्छतं दिग्बलिम्पूर्ववद्धुत्वा प्रदद्याद्दक्षिणादिकं

nyūnādidoṣamoṣārthaṃ hetito juhuyāccchataṃ digbalimpūrvavaddhutvā pradadyāddakṣiṇādikaṃ

เพื่อขจัดโทษเช่นความบกพร่องในพิธี พึงถวายอาหุติหนึ่งร้อยครั้งลงในไฟพร้อมมนตร์ ‘เหติ’ จากนั้นดังที่ทำมาก่อน ให้ประกอบทิศพลี (bali ตามทิศ) แล้วถวายทักษิณาและสิ่งที่กำหนดอื่น ๆ.

nyūna-ādi-doṣa-moṣa-arthamfor removing faults like deficiency
nyūna-ādi-doṣa-moṣa-artham:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootnyūna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + moṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; purpose-object: ‘for the removal (moṣa) of faults such as deficiency’
hetitaḥby means of the heti (mantra/weapon)
hetitaḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootheti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial ablative in -tas (तसिल्/तस्); ‘with/using the weapon (heti)’ i.e., by the (heti-)mantra/means
juhuyātshould offer (oblations)
juhuyāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√hu (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person singular, Parasmaipada
śatama hundred
śatam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; numeral measure
dik-balimdirectional bali-offering
dik-balim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdik (प्रातिपदिक) + bali (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘direction-offering’
pūrvavatas previously
pūrvavat:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpūrvavat (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (पूर्ववत्), ‘as before’
hutvāhaving offered
hutvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Root√hu (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having offered’
pradadyātshould give
pradadyāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√dā (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person singular, Parasmaipada
dakṣiṇa-ādikamdakṣiṇā (priestly fee) and the like
dakṣiṇa-ādikam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘fee/gift etc.’

Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the dominant Agni Purana dialogue frame)

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta within pūjā/homa: correcting ritual deficiencies (nyūna-ādi doṣa) through a fixed oblation-count with hetimantra, followed by digbali and dakṣiṇā.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta-homa for Nyūna-ādi Doṣa with Hetimantra; Digbali and Dakṣiṇā","lookup_keywords":["prāyaścitta","nyūna-doṣa","hetimantra","digbali","dakṣiṇā"],"quick_summary":"If the rite suffers deficiency or similar faults, perform a 100-āhuti corrective homa with the weapon-mantra, then complete the directional bali and give the prescribed fees to restore ritual wholeness."}

Weapon Type: Generic ‘heti’ (weapon) as mantra-symbol; not a battlefield weapon instruction.

Concept: Ritual error is not ignored; it is acknowledged and repaired through prescribed expiation (prāyaścitta) and completion acts (bali, dakṣiṇā).

Application: When omissions occur, do not improvise: use the stated corrective homa count, then finish digbali and give dakṣiṇā to close the rite properly.

Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Prayashchitta and Homa-vidhi)

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A corrective fire-offering: the priest performs 100 oblations with a protective weapon-mantra, then places bali offerings in the directions and finally presents dakṣiṇā to officiants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa blazing, priest chanting hetimantra, directional guardians indicated at the eight directions receiving bali, serene temple setting, rhythmic repetition implied by repeated ladle gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold work: central fire-altar, priest offering āhutis, eight directional bali plates around, dakṣiṇā (coins/cloth) presented with ornate detailing, gold highlights on flames and vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: circular layout showing digbali positions, priest at center with homa implements, a small inset showing dakṣiṇā handover; soft colors and precise lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed yajña scene with attendants holding bali trays at cardinal points, priest counting offerings, patron presenting dakṣiṇā, architectural pavilion backdrop, fine textile patterns."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: juhuyāccchataṃ → juhuyāt śatam; pradadyāddakṣiṇādikaṃ → pradadyāt dakṣiṇa-ādikam; digbalim treated as dik-balim.

Related Themes: Agni Purana 100 (homa counts and subsidiary offerings); Agni Purana 101 (pratiṣṭhā sequences where prāyaścitta may be required)

A
Agni
D
Dikpālas (guardians of the directions)
D
Dakṣiṇā (ritual fee)

FAQs

It prescribes a corrective rite for ritual defects: perform 100 fire oblations with the ‘weapon’ (heti) mantra, then complete the standard directional bali offerings and give the required dakṣiṇā (ritual fees/gifts).

It exemplifies the text’s procedural ritual manual aspect—covering not only worship but also error-correction protocols (prāyaścitta), including mantras, counts of oblations, bali to directions, and obligatory fees.

By formally expiating deficiencies in a rite through mantra-backed oblations, bali, and dakṣiṇā, the performer restores ritual completeness (pūrṇatā), removes doṣa, and safeguards the intended merit (puṇya) from being diminished.