Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 19
Dānādi-māhātmya — The Glory of Gifts, Manuscript-Donation, and Purāṇic Transmission
दद्यात् शरदि विषुवे धर्मार्थादिनिबोधनम् कूर्मञ्चाष्टसहस्रञ्च कूर्मोक्तञ्च रसातले
dadyāt śaradi viṣuve dharmārthādinibodhanam kūrmañcāṣṭasahasrañca kūrmoktañca rasātale
Sa ekwinoks ng taglagas, dapat maghandog bilang dāna ng isang manwal na nagtuturo ng Dharma, Artha, at iba pa; at magbigay rin ng isang pagong, walong libo (barya/cowrie), at yaong itinakda ng Kūrma (Purāṇa) hinggil sa Rasātala.
Lord Agni (narrating prescriptive dharma to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Śarad-viṣuva (autumnal equinox) dāna: gifting didactic texts (dharma-artha-ādi-nibodhana), symbolic animal-dāna (kūrma), and a fixed numerical dakṣiṇā as prescribed in allied Purāṇic injunctions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śarad-viṣuva dāna: Dharma–Artha-nibodhana and Kūrma-dāna","lookup_keywords":["śarad-viṣuva","dharma-artha-nibodhana","kūrma-dāna","aṣṭasahasra","kūrma-purāṇa"],"quick_summary":"On the autumnal equinox, donate an instructive manual on the puruṣārthas along with a tortoise-gift and the stipulated dakṣiṇā; follow the Kūrma-purāṇa’s additional prescription connected with Rasātala."}
Concept: Puruṣārtha-sādhana through dāna—supporting śāstra (knowledge) and symbolic cosmic supports (kūrma/Rasātala motif).
Application: Schedule charitable giving on viṣuva; prioritize gifting knowledge-texts and prescribed dakṣiṇā to qualified recipients.
Khanda Section: Dana-dharma / Vrata-kalpa (Charitable rites and calendrical observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brāhmaṇa recipient seated on a kuśa-mat while a donor offers a palm-leaf/scroll ‘Dharma–Artha’ manual, a tortoise-shaped golden icon, and a heap of coins at the autumnal equinox with balanced day-night symbolism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm ochres and reds, viṣuva dāna scene: donor in white mundu offering a palm-leaf manuscript and a golden tortoise icon to a brāhmaṇa, subtle sun and scales motif for equinox, temple courtyard backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich gold leaf work: brāhmaṇa with halo receiving śāstra-grantha and kūrma-shaped golden dāna, ornate arch, embossed coins (aṣṭasahasra) depicted as gold discs, deep jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework: instructional composition showing items of dāna labeled—grantha, kūrma-pratimā, coins—set on a ritual tray, equinox sun at center, calm domestic-ritual interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly charity: patron presenting manuscript and tortoise-shaped gold object to a learned brāhmaṇa, attendants counting coins, garden pavilion, precise textiles and calligraphic borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कूर्मञ्च = कूर्मम् + च; अष्टसहस्रञ्च = अष्टसहस्रम् + च; कूर्मोक्तञ्च = कूर्मोक्तम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 271 (dāna-vidhi/viṣuva-dāna sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific equinox-time dāna: gifting a dharma–artha instructional text (a didactic manual), along with designated valuables (including a tortoise and a counted offering of “eight thousand”).
It combines calendrical astronomy (viṣuva timing), dharmaśāstric charity injunctions (dāna), textual transmission (gifting instructional treatises), and purāṇic cosmology (Rasātala), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s cross-disciplinary scope.
Equinox-time gifts are framed as merit-generating acts: supporting dharma through teaching-text donations and prescribed offerings is intended to increase puṇya and align the giver with righteous order (dharma) at a ritually potent time.