Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 45
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
यथा यज्ञेश्वरो विष्णुर्देवेष्वपि हि गीयते सत्येन तेन सकलं यन्मयोक्तं तथास्तु तत्
yathā yajñeśvaro viṣṇurdeveṣvapi hi gīyate satyena tena sakalaṃ yanmayoktaṃ tathāstu tat
正如毗湿奴在诸神之中亦被歌颂为祭祀之主，凭此真实之力，愿我所说的一切都如其所言，悉皆成就。
Lord Agni (narrator of the Agni Purana, concluding with a satya-vacana style affirmation)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Used as a satya-saṅkalpa (truth-affirmation) at the close of a rite to seal the efficacy of the recitation and offerings.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Satya-pratijñā for Yajñeśvara Viṣṇu","lookup_keywords":["Yajñeśvara","Viṣṇu","satya","tathāstu","saṅkalpa"],"quick_summary":"Affirms Viṣṇu as Lord of sacrifice and employs truth (satya) as the ritual force to make the stated intention succeed."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (yathā... tathā)
Concept: Satya as śakti in yajña—truthfulness empowers mantra and resolves saṅkalpa.
Application: Conclude worship with a truth-based ‘tathāstu’ to stabilize intention and remove doubt (saṅkalpa-daurbalya).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yajna-stuti (Ritual praise and truth-affirmation)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist concluding a yajña, hands in añjali, invoking Viṣṇu as Lord of sacrifice; altar fire glowing, offerings completed, the words ‘tathāstu’ implied as a sealing gesture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, yajña-vedi with sacred fire, priest in white, Viṣṇu as Yajñeśvara subtly present in aura behind the altar, warm ochres and reds, stylized flames, serene śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu as Yajñeśvara with ornate crown and gold leaf halo, miniature yajña altar below, priest offering āhuti, rich jewel tones, heavy gold work emphasizing ‘satya’ blessing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual closure scene: priest facing fire altar, gesture of saṅkalpa and ‘tathāstu’, clean lines, soft shading, labeled ritual items (sruk, sruva, ājya).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yajña pavilion with detailed textiles, small fire altar, Brahmin reciter concluding with ‘tathāstu’, Viṣṇu suggested as symbolic emblem above, fine brushwork and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇur → viṣṇuḥ; deveṣvapi → deveṣu api; yanmayoktaṃ → yat mayā uktam; tathāstu → tathā astu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 31 (Kuśāpamārjana context); Agni Purana 32 (transition to saṃskāras)
FAQs
It teaches a satya-vacana (truth-affirmation) closure: invoking an acknowledged truth (Viṣṇu as Yajñeśvara) to seal and efficaciously confirm the preceding ritual teaching or statement—functionally akin to a ritual ‘may it be fulfilled’ formula.
Beyond listing rites, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical devices—like concluding truth-acts used to validate prayers, vows, and ritual recitations—showing not only doctrine but also the operational language of ritual performance.
A satya-vacana is traditionally held to strengthen the merit and efficacy of a rite: by aligning speech with truth, the practitioner’s intention is purified and the stated outcome is invoked to manifest without obstruction.