Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 1
Sāmavidhāna (Procedure concerning the Sāma Veda) — Colophon and Closure
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे सामविधानं नाम षष्ट्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथैकषष्ठ्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथर्वविधानं पुष्कर उवाच साम्नां विधानं कथितं वक्ष्ये चाथर्वणामथ
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe sāmavidhānaṃ nāma ṣaṣṭyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ athaikaṣaṣṭhyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atharvavidhānaṃ puṣkara uvāca sāmnāṃ vidhānaṃ kathitaṃ vakṣye cātharvaṇāmatha
至此，《阿耆尼摩诃补罗那》中题为《萨摩（吠陀）仪轨》的第二百六十一章告终。今起第二百六十二章：《阿闼婆（吠陀）仪轨》。普什迦罗说道：“萨曼诸颂之仪轨已述；今我亦将宣说阿闼婆传承之仪轨。”
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ritual sequencing and textual navigation: marking the transition from Sāmavidhāna to Atharvavidhāna, guiding a practitioner/priest on what corpus and procedures come next.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Adhyāya-saṅkrama (Sāmavidhāna → Atharvavidhāna)","lookup_keywords":["Sāmavidhāna","Atharvavidhāna","Puṣkara","adhyāya-parisamāpti","Agni Purāṇa 261-262"],"quick_summary":"This colophon-and-transition verse closes the Sāma-procedure chapter and opens the Atharvan-procedure chapter, establishing the encyclopedic organization of Vedic ritual applications."}
Concept: Veda-vidhāna as applied knowledge: distinct procedural streams for Sāman and Atharvan traditions.
Application: Use as a table-of-contents cue for study/recitation planning and for aligning rites with the correct Vedic branch.
Khanda Section: Veda-vidhāna (Vedic Procedural Rites: Sāma & Atharva applications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sage (Puṣkara) in a hermitage setting closes a palm-leaf manuscript section labeled ‘Sāmavidhāna’ and opens a new section titled ‘Atharvavidhāna’, indicating a formal transition in ritual instruction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Puṣkara rishi seated on kusa mat, palm-leaf manuscript with headings ‘Sāmavidhāna’ and ‘Atharvavidhāna’, muted earth pigments, stylized foliage, calm instructional ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Puṣkara with halo and ornate borders, palm-leaf manuscript opened to chapter colophon, rich reds and greens, subtle gold leaf highlighting the manuscript title panels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework of a scribe-like scene: Puṣkara pointing to manuscript colophon, clean composition, emphasis on textual headings and ritual manuals, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly court/ashram library scene, Puṣkara presenting a manuscript to disciples, detailed calligraphy-like title cartouches ‘Sāmavidhāna’ and ‘Atharvavidhāna’, delicate architectural frame"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye ← iti + āgneye; 'dhyāyaḥ ← adhyāyaḥ with avagraha after -o; atharvaṇāmatha ← atharvaṇām + atha; athaika- ← atha + eka-.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 261 (Sāmavidhāna); Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 262 (Atharvavidhāna/Utpātaśānti opening)
FAQs
It marks the transition from rules for applying Sāma Veda chants (Sāmavidhāna) to the forthcoming rules for Atharva Veda mantras and rites (Atharvavidhāna), indicating a procedural (vidhāna) framework for mantra-use.
By cataloging and sequencing distinct Vedic disciplines (Sāma and Atharva procedural sections), it shows the Agni Purana’s compendious structure—organizing diverse ritual technologies (mantra-prayoga/vidhāna) into chaptered manuals.
The verse signals correct adherence to śāstric procedure (vidhāna) for mantra practice; such disciplined, text-guided performance is traditionally held to ensure efficacy (siddhi) and merit (puṇya) while avoiding ritual error (doṣa).