Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 44
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
कृषिं प्रपद्यमानस्तु स्थालीपाकं यथाविधि जुहुयात् क्षेत्रमध्ये तु स्वनीस्वाहास्तु पञ्चभिः
kṛṣiṃ prapadyamānastu sthālīpākaṃ yathāvidhi juhuyāt kṣetramadhye tu svanīsvāhāstu pañcabhiḥ
เมื่อจะเริ่มการเกษตร พึงบูชาไฟด้วยเครื่องบูชา “สถาลีปากะ” ตามพระวินัยพิธี แล้ว ณ กลางทุ่งนา พึงถวายอาหุติห้าครั้ง พร้อมกล่าวว่า “สวะนี สวาหา”
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Field-consecration before beginning cultivation: perform sthālīpāka and five oblations in the field’s center with the specified svāhā-utterance to ritually secure fertility and remove impediments.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kr̥ṣi-prārambha: Sthālīpāka and Pañcāhuti in the Field (svanī svāhā)","lookup_keywords":["krishi","sthālīpāka","pañcāhuti","kṣetra-madhya","svāhā"],"quick_summary":"Before starting agriculture, offer a sthālīpāka and then five oblations at the field’s center with the prescribed svāhā-formula, establishing ritual auspiciousness for the season’s work."}
Concept: Karma-kāṇḍa framing of livelihood: agriculture is begun as a consecrated act aligned with ṛta through offering and mantra.
Application: Treat economic activity as dharmic: begin work with a small, rule-based offering to reduce obstacles and cultivate disciplined effort.
Khanda Section: Krishi-vidhi (Agriculture rites within Agni Purana’s ritual/karma-kanda instructions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cultivator prepares a small fire-altar in the middle of a field and offers cooked oblations (sthālīpāka) five times, each with a svāhā-utterance, marking the start of the agricultural season.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, a farmer-priest in white dhoti beside a small homa-kunda in the center of a paddy field, five oblations rising as stylized flames, palm trees and distant hills, sacred calm, traditional ornamented borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa fire with gold-leaf highlights, farmer offering ladlefuls of sthālīpāka, field furrows radiating outward, ornate halo-like glow around Agni, rich textiles and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework showing the procedure: field center marked, small altar, offering ladle, five counted oblations indicated subtly, instructional composition with gentle pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed agrarian landscape with a small ritual scene at the field’s center, attendants holding vessels, delicate flames, fine botanical detail, balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रपद्यमानस्+तु → प्रपद्यमानस्तु; स्वनीस्वाहास्+तु → स्वनीस्वाहास्तु. ‘यथाविधि’ is treated as yathā + (vidhau) ‘according to rule’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (Kr̥ṣi-vidhi context: bali, devatā-pūjā, mantra-prayoga)
FAQs
It prescribes a kr̥ṣi-prārambha rite: performing a sthālīpāka offering and then making five oblations in the field’s center while uttering the formula “svanī svāhā.”
Beyond theology, it records applied household and livelihood practices—here, a standardized agricultural commencement ritual—showing the text’s coverage of practical rites for prosperity alongside broader dharma and ritual systems.
The offering sacralizes the act of cultivation, seeking purity and auspiciousness for the field and harvest, and aligning the work with dharmic, merit-bearing (puṇya) action through mantra and homa.