Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 4
Māheśvara-snāna: Lakṣa/Koṭi-homa, Protective Baths, Unguents, and Graha-Śānti
स्नानं घृतेन कथितमायुष्यवर्धनं परम् गोमयेन च लक्ष्मीः स्याद्गोमूत्रेणाघमर्दनम्
snānaṃ ghṛtena kathitamāyuṣyavardhanaṃ param gomayena ca lakṣmīḥ syādgomūtreṇāghamardanam
以酥油（ghṛta）沐浴，被宣说为最上增寿之法。以牛粪沐浴，则招致吉祥富饶（Lakṣmī）；以牛尿沐浴，则能摧灭罪垢与不净。
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Purificatory bathing substances are mapped to tangible outcomes: longevity (ghee), prosperity (cow-dung), and purification/expiation (cow-urine), guiding household and ritual hygiene practices.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Snāna-dravya phala: Ghṛta (āyuḥ), Gomaya (lakṣmī), Gomūtra (aghahāni)","lookup_keywords":["ghṛta-snāna","gomaya-snāna","gomūtra-snāna","āyuṣya-vardhana","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse assigns specific benefits to bathing media: ghee promotes longevity, cow-dung supports prosperity, and cow-urine removes impurity/sin—serving as a quick ritual-health reference."}
Concept: Dravya-guṇa-phala sambandha: specific substances are prescribed for specific worldly and ritual results (āyuḥ, śrī, śuddhi).
Application: Choose bathing/cleansing media according to intended outcome—strengthening (ghṛta), auspicious household prosperity rites (gomaya), expiatory purification (gomūtra)—within one’s tradition and safe practice.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Snana-vidhi and Purificatory/Health Practices)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three-panel instructional scene: (1) person anointed/bathed with ghee labeled ‘āyuṣya’, (2) cleansing with cow-dung water labeled ‘lakṣmī’, (3) purification with cow-urine (diluted) labeled ‘aghahāni’; set in a traditional courtyard with ritual vessels.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych composition with bold labels in stylized script, ritual vessels and courtyard, warm earthy tones, symbolic Lakṣmī motif near gomaya panel, calm didactic mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents on vessels and auspicious symbols, Lakṣmī iconography subtly behind gomaya panel, rich decorative borders, clear three-benefit layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram-like panels, fine linework showing substances and method of application, gentle colors, emphasis on clarity and traditional household setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic courtyard, attendants preparing bowls of ghṛta, gomaya mixture, and diluted gomūtra, small caption cartouches for benefits, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कथितमायुष्यवर्धनं→कथितम् + आयुष्यवर्धनम्; स्याद्गोमूत्रेण→स्यात् + गोमूत्रेण (त्+ग→द्ग)
Related Themes: Agni Purana snāna-vidhi and prayāścitta-related passages in Puja-vidhi/Ayurveda portions
FAQs
It prescribes specific snāna-dravyas (bath substances)—ghee for enhancing longevity, cow-dung for attracting prosperity, and cow-urine for removing pāpa/impurity—linking bodily cleansing with ritual and karmic outcomes.
By cataloging practical health-and-purification procedures (snāna benefits and materials), it demonstrates the text’s coverage beyond mythology into applied Ayurveda-like regimen and ritual hygiene—typical of the Agni Purana’s multi-disciplinary scope.
The verse frames bathing as a means of both āyuṣya (life-force/longevity) augmentation and pāpa-kṣaya (removal of sin/impurity), presenting cleanliness as a vehicle for merit, prosperity, and purification.