Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 15
Sāma-vidhāna
Procedure of the Sāman Hymns
प्राशयेद्बालकं नित्यं वचाचूर्णं घृतप्लुतं इन्द्रमिद्गाथिनं जप्त्वा भवेच्छ्रुतिधरस्त्वसौ ध्रुवं ध्रुवेणेति हुतं स्थानलाभकरं भवेत् अलक्तजीवेति शुना कृषिलाभकरं भवेत्
prāśayedbālakaṃ nityaṃ vacācūrṇaṃ ghṛtaplutaṃ indramidgāthinaṃ japtvā bhavecchrutidharastvasau dhruvaṃ dhruveṇeti hutaṃ sthānalābhakaraṃ bhavet alaktajīveti śunā kṛṣilābhakaraṃ bhavet
应当每日令孩童服食以酥油（ghee）调和之 vacā（菖蒲）粉，同时诵「indram id gāthinam」之真言；则此童必定成为能持所闻者（记忆坚固）。以「dhruvaṃ dhruveṇa」之真言而献供者，将成为获得职位/稳固地位之因。又以犬（śunā）而行供献之仪，并诵「alaktajīva」之真言者，将成为农事获利之因。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, the typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Medhya-prayoga for children using vacā with ghṛta alongside mantra-japa for memory; additional homa/mantra prayogas for stability in position and agricultural gain.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vacā-ghṛta medhya for child + mantra-homa for sthāna and kṛṣi-lābha","lookup_keywords":["vacā cūrṇa","ghṛta-pluta","indram id gāthinam","dhruvaṃ dhruveṇa","alaktajīva"],"quick_summary":"Daily administration of vacā powder with ghee, accompanied by mantra-japa, is taught to strengthen retention; separate āhuti/mantra rites are stated to secure position and promote agricultural gain."}
Concept: Synergy of dravya (aushadhi) and śabda (mantra) for medhā; ritual acts as means to stabilize worldly outcomes (sthāna, kṛṣi).
Application: Use medhya dietetics with disciplined recitation for education; employ dhruva-related āhuti for stability; perform the stated kṛṣi-lābha prayoga as a prosperity rite tied to agrarian life.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Mantra-Aushadhi & Medhya-Prayoga)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mother/teacher gives a child a small portion of vacā mixed with ghee while a priest/elder recites a mantra; nearby, a simple homa is performed for stability (dhruva) and a rural field scene symbolizes agricultural gain linked to the ‘alaktajīva’ rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: domestic scene with child receiving ghṛta-mixed herb, elder with japa-mālā, small homa fire; background shows paddy fields and a dog motif as symbolic element, bold outlines, earthy greens and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: child and mother in center, gold-highlighted bowl of ghṛta and herb, mantra scroll motif; side panel with homa-kunda and ‘dhruva’ symbolism (pole star), rich gold work; agrarian abundance vignette with gilded crops.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional herbal preparation scene—grinding vacā, mixing with ghee, administering to child; separate vignette of homa with labeled mantra; clean, precise detailing suitable for a manual-like illustration.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate household education scene with child and tutor, detailed utensils and textiles; rural landscape inset with cultivated fields and ritual fire, fine calligraphy cartouches for mantra names."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prāśayedbālakaṃ → prāśayet + bālakam; vacācūrṇaṃ → vacā-cūrṇam; indramidgāthinaṃ → indram + it + gāthinam; bhavecchrutidharastvasau → bhavet + śruti-dharaḥ + tu + asau; dhruveṇeti → dhruveṇa + iti; hutam sthānalābhakaraṃ → hutam + sthāna-lābha-karam; alaktajīveti → alakta-jīva + iti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 260 (mantra-aushadhi and medhya prayoga); Agni Purana Ayurveda portions on herbs/ghṛta preparations (where present)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-empowered medicinal administration (vacā powder with ghee for a child’s memory) and specific homa-mantra applications aimed at securing a post/position and increasing agricultural gains.
It combines Ayurveda (herbal preparation), Vedic mantra-practice (japa), and ritual technology (homa) to address education, employment/position, and agriculture—showing the text’s coverage of practical life-skills alongside religious rites.
The verse frames worldly benefits (learning, stability, prosperity) as outcomes of disciplined, mantra-guided acts—implying that merit (puṇya) and right ritual order can harmonize spiritual practice with righteous livelihood.