Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
ग्रीष्मे तु वाजपेयस्य राजसूयस्य वर्षति गोसहस्रस्य शरदि फलं तत्पठतो ह्य् ऋतौ
grīṣme tu vājapeyasya rājasūyasya varṣati gosahasrasya śaradi phalaṃ tatpaṭhato hy ṛtau
然于夏季（grīṣma）诵之，其功德等同婆阇佩耶（Vājapeya）祭；雨季（varṣā）等同王者苏耶（Rājasūya）祭；秋季（śarad）其果报等同施舍千牛——此即依时诵读者之季节功德。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Seasonal recitation schedule promising graded merits: Vājapeya (grīṣma), Rājasūya (varṣā), and go-sahasra-dāna equivalent (śarad) for timely pāṭha.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṛtu-wise Pāṭha-phala: Vājapeya, Rājasūya, Go-sahasra","lookup_keywords":["grīṣma","varṣā","śarad","Vājapeya","Rājasūya"],"quick_summary":"Reciting in specific seasons is said to yield merits comparable to major royal sacrifices and large-scale cow-gifting, encouraging disciplined annual reading cycles."}
Concept: Kāla-niyama (timely observance) strengthens dharma; śāstra-pāṭha is elevated to the status of śrauta and dāna merits.
Application: Plan a four-season reading program; in śarad pair recitation with actual charity (go-sevā/dāna) to embody the stated phala.
Khanda Section: Phala-śruti (Merit of Recitation) / Vrata-vidhi & Ritual Merits
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A reciter reads in different seasons; symbolic motifs show Vājapeya, Rājasūya, and a thousand cows as merit-icons.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with triptych panels: summer sun with Vājapeya emblem (soma vessel/ritual banner), monsoon clouds with Rājasūya royal parasol and fire-altar, autumn golden fields with a herd of cows; central figure reciting from the Purāṇa","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central recitation scene with gold haloed book pedestal; surrounding medallions: soma cup for Vājapeya, royal throne/parasol for Rājasūya, embossed cow herd for go-sahasra; heavy gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic seasonal chart-like painting: three rows labeled grīṣma/varṣā/śarad with corresponding icons; reciter seated at side, clean lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant seasonal landscapes in three registers—summer garden, rainy courtyard, autumn pasture with cows—each with a small scholar reciting; fine detailing and naturalistic clouds"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Malhar (for varṣā emphasis)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्पठतो = तत्-पठतः; ह्य् ऋतौ = हि-ऋतौ
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 382.27 (preceding seasonal yajña-tulya mapping); Agni Purāṇa 382.29 (jñāna-yajña framing)
FAQs
It teaches ṛtu-phala—how the merit of reciting the specified sacred text is calibrated by season, being equated to major śrauta rites (Vājapeya, Rājasūya) and to the high-value gift of a thousand cows.
By indexing devotional recitation to classical Vedic sacrificial benchmarks and dāna (cow-gifting) economy, it preserves cross-domain knowledge—ritual science (śrauta), calendrical/seasonal discipline (ṛtu), and merit theory (phala-śruti)—in a compact, practical rule.
It frames disciplined, timely recitation as a karma-purifying act whose spiritual yield can rival prestigious royal sacrifices and major gifts, emphasizing right time (ṛtu) as a multiplier of religious merit.