Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
Chapter 40 — भूपरिग्रहो नाम
Bhū-parigraha) / अर्घ्यदानविधानम् (Arghya-dāna-vidhāna
मांसौदनेन धर्मेशमेकैकस्मिन् स्थितं द्वयं गन्धर्वं द्विपदं गन्धैर् भृशं शाकुनजिह्वया
māṃsaudanena dharmeśamekaikasmin sthitaṃ dvayaṃ gandharvaṃ dvipadaṃ gandhair bhṛśaṃ śākunajihvayā
噢，法之主，以肉煮饭为供品，于每一处安置当设两份：一份奉献乾闼婆，一份奉献二足之众。并当以诸香浓熏之，复以“鸟舌”（器具/陈设法）而供。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Bali/naivedya placement rules for propitiating specific classes of beings (Gandharvas, birds/‘two-footed’), including scenting and the correct implement/arrangement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bali with māṃsodana for Gandharva and dvipada; gandha-scenting and śākuna-jihvā","lookup_keywords":["māṃsodana","gandharva-bali","dvipada","gandha","śākuna-jihvā"],"quick_summary":"Offer meat-cooked rice in paired portions per placement—one for Gandharva and one for the dvipada—strongly perfumed, using the prescribed ‘bird-tongue’ arrangement/implement."}
Concept: Ritual reciprocity: specific beings are satisfied by specific substances, measures, and sensory qualifiers (gandha).
Application: Follow exact offering-substance and placement pairing to avert disturbance from intermediary beings and maintain ritual purity.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Dharmashastra (Offerings, bali and propitiatory rites involving beings such as Gandharvas and birds)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual bali-diagram with two small portions of meat-cooked rice set at a marked spot, heavily perfumed; a priest holds or indicates a ‘bird-tongue’ shaped implement/arrangement while invoking Gandharvas and bird-like beings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, priest in white mundu near a bali-peetha, two leaf-bowls of māṃsodana, incense and flower-garlands, subtle Gandharva figures in the background, earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central bali-peetha with gold-leaf highlights, two ornate offering bowls, stylized Gandharvas with veena, rich textiles, strong fragrance motifs (incense curls), devotional ritual setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout showing paired portions labeled ‘Gandharva’ and ‘Dvipada’, priest demonstrating the śākuna-jihvā implement, clean lines, soft shading, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly priest performing bali on a patterned floor, tiny labeled offering plates, delicate incense smoke, marginal Gandharvas in the sky, fine detail and architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धर्मेशम् + एकैकस्मिन् → धर्मेशमेकैकस्मिन्; गन्धैः + भृशम् → गन्धैर् भृशम्; शाकुन + जिह्वया → शाकुनजिह्वया; मांस + औदनेन → मांसौदनेन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 40 (bali/pretakalpa sequence); Agni Purana sections on puja-vidhi and naivedya/bali arrangements
FAQs
It prescribes a bali/naivedya procedure: using māṃsa-odana, place two portions in each designated spot—one directed to a Gandharva and one to a ‘dvipada’ recipient—perfumed heavily with gandha, using the specified ‘śākuna-jihvā’ mode/implement of offering.
Beyond theology, it gives operational ritual minutiae—food type, portioning, target beings (Gandharvas), and sensory ritual elements (fragrance, specific offering implement/term)—showing the text’s catalog-like coverage of applied dharma and rite-craft.
Correctly directed and properly prepared offerings are presented as a means to maintain ritual order (dharma), appease intermediary beings, and avert inauspicious influences—thereby supporting purity, protection, and merit through disciplined observance.