Agni Purana

वृक्षाणआं यज्ञियानान्तु समिधः प्रथमं हविः । आज्यञ्च व्रीहयश्चैव तथा वै गौरसर्षपाः ।। २६१.

Of the sacrificial woods, the first oblation is made; likewise ghee, rice, cow's milk, and mustard seeds.

अक्षतानि तिलाश्चैव दधिक्षीरे च भार्गव । दर्भास्तथैव दूर्वाश्च विल्वानि कमलानि च ।। २६१.

Unbroken grains, sesame seeds, curd and milk, O Bhārgava, also darbha grass, dūrvā grass, bilva fruits, and lotuses.

शान्तिपुष्टिकराण्याहुर्द्रव्याण्येतानि सर्वशः । तैलङ्कणानि धर्मज्ञ राजिका रुधिरं विषं ।। २६१.

All these substances are said to bring peace and nourishment; oil-cakes, O knower of dharma, black mustard, blood, and poison.

समिधः कण्टकोपेता अभिचारेषु योजयेत् । आर्षं वै दैवतं छन्दो बिन्योगज्ञ आचरेत् ।। २६१.

Sacrificial woods with thorns are to be used in hostile rites; the seer, the deity, and the meter should be known by the one performing the application.

पुष्कर उवाच श्रीसूक्तं प्रतिवेदञ्च क्षेयं लक्षअमीविवर्द्धनं । हिरण्यवर्णा हरिणीमृचः पञ्चदश श्रियः ।। २६३.

Puṣkara said: The Śrīsūkta, recited at every Veda, should be known as increasing prosperity; the fifteen verses beginning with 'golden-hued, tawny' are of Śrī.

रथेष्वक्षेषु वाजेति चतस्रो यजुषि श्रियः । स्रावन्तीयं तथा साम श्रीसूक्तं सामवेदके ।। २६३.

In the Yajurveda, there are four hymns to Śrī recited at the axles of chariots; in the Sāmaveda, the Śrīsūkta is chanted as the Srāvantīyaṃ.

श्रियं धातर्मयि धेहि प्रोक्तमाथर्वणे तथा । श्रीसूक्तं यो जपेद्‌भक्त्या हत्वा श्रीस्तस्य वै भवेत् ।। २६३.

The Atharvaveda also contains the prayer, 'O Sustainer, place Śrī in me.' Whoever recites the Śrīsūkta with devotion will surely obtain the favor of Śrī.

पद्मानि चाथ विल्वानि हुत्वाज्यं वा लिलान् श्रियः । एकन्तु पौरुषं सूक्तं प्रतिवेदन्तु सर्वदं ।। २६३.

By offering lotuses, bilva leaves, or ghee, one attains the blessings of Śrī; and always, in each Veda, the Puruṣa Sūkta should be recited.

सूक्तेन दद्यान्निष्पापो ह्येकैकया१ जलाञ्जलिं । स्नात एकैकया पुष्पं विष्णोर्द्दत्वाघहा भवेत् ।। २६३.

By offering a handful of water with each hymn, one becomes free from sin; after bathing, by offering a single flower to Viṣṇu with each hymn, one is freed from wrongdoing.

स्नात एकैकया दत्वा फलं स्यात् सर्वकामभाक् । महापापोपपापान्तो भवेज्जप्त्वा तु पैरुषं ।। २६३.

After bathing, by offering with each hymn, one attains all desired fruits; by reciting the Puruṣa Sūkta, even great and minor sins come to an end.

कृच्छ्रैर्विशुद्धो जप्त्वा च हुत्वा स्नात्वाऽथ सर्वभाक् । अष्टादशभ्यः सान्तिभ्यस्तिस्रोऽन्याः शान्तयो वराः ।। २६३.

Purified by austerities, by reciting, offering, and bathing, one attains all blessings; among the eighteen Śāntis, three others are considered supreme.

अमृता चाभ्या सौम्या सर्व्वोत्पातविमर्द्दनाः । अमृता सर्वदैवत्या अभ्या ब्रह्मदैवता ।। २६३.

The Amṛtā and Abhyā Śāntis are gentle and dispel all calamities; Amṛtā is for all deities, Abhyā is for the deity Brahmā.

सौम्या च सर्वदैवत्या एका स्यात्सर्व्वकामदा । अभयायामणिः कार्य्यो वरुणस्य भृगूत्तम ।। २६३.

The Saumyā Śānti is for all deities and grants all desires; the Abhayā gem should be used for Varuṇa, O best of Bhṛgus.

शतकाण्डोऽमृतायाश्च सौम्यायाः शङ्खजो मणिः । तद्दैवत्यास्तथा मन्त्राः सिद्धौ स्यान्मणिबन्धनं ।। २६३.

The Śatakāṇḍa gem is for Amṛtā, and the conch-born gem for Saumyā; their respective mantras are for their deities, and the gem should be bound for success.

दिव्यान्तरीक्षभौमादिसमुत्पातार्दनाइमाः । द्विव्यान्तरीक्षभौमन्तु अद्भुतं त्रिविधं श्रृणु ।। २६३.

These are for dispelling calamities arising from heaven, atmosphere, and earth; listen to the threefold marvels—heavenly, atmospheric, and earthly.

ग्रहर्क्षवैकृतं दिव्यमान्तरीक्षन्निबोध मे । उल्कापातश्च दिग्दाहः परिवेशस्तथैव च ।। २६३.

Hear from me about celestial disturbances caused by planets and stars, as well as atmospheric ones: meteor falls, burning of directions, and halos.

गन्धर्वनगरञ्चैव वृष्टिश्च विकृता च या । चरस्थिरभवं भूमौ भूकम्पमपि भूमिजं ।। २६३.

Also, the appearance of Gandharva cities, abnormal rain, and whatever is strange; on earth, moving or stationary phenomena, and earthquakes arising from the ground.

सप्ताहाभ्यन्तरे वष्टावद्भुतं निष्फलं भवेत् । शान्तिं विना त्रिभिर्वर्षैरद्भुतं भयकृद्भवेत् ।। २६३.

If a marvel occurs within seven days, it will be fruitless; without propitiation, after three years, a marvel becomes a source of fear.

देवतार्च्चाः प्रनृत्यन्ति वेपन्ते प्रज्वलन्ति च । आरठन्ति च रोदन्ति प्रस्विद्यन्तेहसन्ति च ।। २६३.

Images of deities dance, tremble, blaze, shout, weep, sweat, and laugh.

अर्च्चाविकारोपशमोऽभ्यर्च्य हुत्वा प्रजापतेः । अनग्निर्दीप्यते यत्र राष्ट्रे च भृशनिस्वनं ।। २६३.

The cessation of such disturbances in images is achieved by worship and offerings to Prajāpati; where fire does not burn, and there is great thunder in the kingdom.

न दीप्यते चेन्धनवांस्तद्राष्ट्रं पीड्यते नृपैः । अग्निवैकृत्यशमनमग्निमन्त्रैश्च भार्गव ।। २६३.

Where firewood does not ignite, that kingdom is afflicted by rulers; the remedy for fire disturbances, O Bhārgava, is through Agni mantras.

अकाले फलिता वृक्षाः क्षीरं रक्तं स्रवन्ति च । वृक्षोत्पातप्रशमनं शिवं पूज्य च कारयेत् ।। २६३.

When trees bear fruit out of season and milk flows as blood, the remedy for such tree calamities is to have auspicious worship performed for Śiva.

अतिवृष्टिरनावृष्टिर्दुर्भिक्षायोभयं मतं । अनृतौ त्रिदिनारब्घवृष्टिर्ज्ञेया भयाय हि ।। २६३.

Excessive rain, drought, and famine are both considered calamities; if rain falls for three days out of season, it should be known as a cause for fear.

वृष्टिवैकृत्यनाशः स्यात्पर्जन्येन्द्वर्कपूजनात् । नगरादपसर्पन्ते समीपमुपयान्ति च ।। २६३.

The disruption of rainfall is removed by worship of Parjanya, Indra, and the Sun; those who have departed from the city return, and those nearby approach.

नद्यो ह्रदप्रश्रवणा विरसाश्च भवन्ति च । सलिलाशयवैकृत्ये जप्तव्यो वारुणो मनुः ।। २६३.

Rivers, lakes, and springs become tasteless; when there is disturbance in water sources, the Varuna mantra should be recited.

अकालप्रसवा नार्य्यः कालतो वाप्रजास्तथा । विकृतप्रसवाश्चैव युग्मप्रसवनादिकं ।। २६३.

Women give birth out of season, or offspring are born at the proper time but are abnormal; there are also distorted births and twin births and the like.

स्त्रीणां प्रसववैकृत्ये स्त्रीविप्रादि प्रपूजयेत् । वड़वा हस्तिनी गौर्वा यदि युग्मं प्रसूयते ।। २६३.

When there is abnormality in women's childbirth, one should worship women, Brahmins, and others; if a mare, elephant, or cow gives birth to twins.

विजात्यं विकृतं वापि षड्‌भिर्मासैर्म्रियेत् वै । विकृतं वा प्रसूयन्ते परचक्रभयं भवेत् ।। २६३.

If an offspring is of a different species or deformed, it dies within six months; if deformed offspring are born, there is danger from foreign armies.

होमः प्रसूतिवैकृत्ये जपो विप्रादिपूजनं । यानि यानान्ययुक्तानि युक्तानि न वहन्ति च ।। २६३.

For abnormalities in birth, one should perform a fire offering, recite mantras, and worship Brahmins and others; those who are not suitable do not bear suitable offspring.