Agni Purana

अन्नस्य मनुजश्रेष्ठ पानस्य च सुगन्धिनः । चामरव्यजनोपानच्छत्रं यानासने तथा ।। २६४.

For food, O best of men, and for fragrant drink; fan, whisk, footwear, umbrella, vehicle, and seat likewise.

यत् किञ्चिदेवमादि स्यात्सावित्रेण निवेदयेत् । पौरुषन्तु जपेत् सूक्तं तदेब जुहुयात्तथा ।। २६४.

Whatever is of this kind, beginning thus, should be offered with the Sāvitrī; and the mantras should be recited, and that very thing should be offered in the same way.

अर्च्चाभावे तथा वेद्याञ्जले पूर्णघटे तथा । नदीतीतरेऽथ कमले शान्तिः स्याद्विष्णुपूजनात् ।। २६४.

In the absence of an image, the altar, the joined palms, a full water-pot, the riverbank, or a lotus may be used; peace is attained by worshipping Viṣṇu.

ततो होमः प्रकर्त्तव्यो दीप्यमाने विभावसौ । परिसम्मृज्य पर्य्युक्ष्य परिस्तीर्य्य परिस्तरैः ।। २६४.

Then the fire offering should be performed when the fire is blazing; after cleansing, sprinkling, and spreading around with the prescribed materials.

सर्व्वान्नाग्रं समुद्‌धृत्य जुहुयात् प्रयतस्ततः । वासुदेवाय देवाय प्रभवे चाव्ययाय च ।। २६४.

With pure intent, one should take the best portion of all food and offer it to Vāsudeva, the god, the Lord, and the imperishable one.

अग्नये चैव सोमाय मित्राय वरुणाय च । इन्द्राय च महाभाग इन्द्राग्निभ्यां तथैव च ।। २६४.

And also to Agni, Soma, Mitra, Varuṇa, Indra the greatly fortunate, and likewise to Indra and Agni together.

विश्वेभ्यशचैव देवेब्यः प्रजानां पतये नमः । अनुमत्यै तथा राम धन्वन्तरय एव च ।। २६४.

And to all the gods, to the Lord of creatures, homage; to Anumati, to Rāma, and to Dhanvantari as well.

वास्तोष्पत्यै ततो देव्यै ततः स्विष्टिकृतेऽग्नये । सच्तुर्थ्यन्तनाम्ना तु हुत्वैतेब्यो बलिं हरेत् ।। २६४.

Then to Vāstoṣpati, then to the goddess, then to Agni as the maker of the sacrificial rite; having offered thus by their respective names, one should present the offering to these.

तक्षोपतक्षमभितः पूर्वेणाग्निमतः परम् । अश्वानामपि धर्मज्ञ ऊर्णानामानि चाप्यथ ।। २६४.

Around the carpenter and his assistant, to the east of the fire, O knower of dharma, also to the horses and to the sheep.

निरुन्धी धूम्रिणीका च अस्वपन्ती तथैव च । मेघपत्नी च नामानि सर्व्वेषामेव भार्गव ।। २६४.

To Nirundhī, Dhūmriṇīkā, Asvapantī, and Meghapatnī—these are the names of all, O Bhārgava.

आग्नेयाद्याः क्रमेणाथ ततः शक्तिषु निक्षिपेत् । नन्दिन्यै च सुभाग्यै च सुमङ्गल्यै च भार्गव ।। २६४.

Then, in order, to the deities beginning with Āgneyī, one should place (the offerings) on the weapons; to Nandinī, Subhāgyā, and Sumaṅgalyā, O Bhārgava.

भद्रकाल्यै ततो दत्वा स्थूणायाञ्च तथा श्रिये । हिरणअयकेश्यै च तथा वनस्पतय एव च ।। २६४.

Then, having given to Bhadrakālī, to the post, to Śrī, to Hiraṇyakeśī, and likewise to the forest trees.

धर्म्माधर्ममयौ द्वारे गृहमध्ये ध्रुवाय च । मृत्यवे च बहिर्दद्याद्वरुणायोदकाशये ।। २६४.

At the two doors, to Dharma and Adharma, in the middle of the house to Dhruva; outside, to Mṛtyu, and to Varuṇa at the water place.

भूतोभ्यश्च बहिर्द्दद्याच्छरणे धनदाय च । इन्द्रायेन्द्रपुरुषेभ्यो दद्यात् पूर्वेण मानवः ।। २६४.

Outside, one should give to the spirits, at the shelter to Dhanada; to Indra and the Indra-beings, a man should give to the east.

यमाय तत् पुरुषेभ्यो दद्याद्दक्षिणतस्तथा । वरुणाय तत्पुरुषेभ्यो दद्यात्पश्चिमतस्तथा ।। २६४.

To Yama and the Yama-beings, one should give to the south; to Varuṇa and the Varuṇa-beings, one should give to the west.

सोमाय सोमपुरुषेभ्य उदग्दद्यादनन्तरं । ब्रह्मणे ब्रह्मपुरुषेभ्यो मध्ये दद्यात्तथैव च ।। २६४.

To Soma and the Soma-beings, one should give to the north; to Brahmā and the Brahmā-beings, one should give in the middle in the same way.

आकाशे च तथा चोद्‌र्ध्वे स्थण्डिलाय क्षितौ तथा । दिवा दिवाचरेभ्यश्च रात्रौ रात्रिचरेषु च ।। २६४.

In the sky and likewise above, to Sthaṇḍila on the earth; by day to the day-roaming beings, by night to the night-roaming beings.

बलिं बहिस्तथा दद्यात्सायं प्रातस्तु प्रत्यहं । पिण्डनिर्वपणं कुर्य्यात् प्रातः सायं न कारयेत् ।। २६४.

One should give the offering outside in the evening and morning every day; one should perform the offering of balls (piṇḍa) in the morning, not in the evening.

पित्रे तु प्रथमं दद्यात्तत्पित्रे तदनन्तरम् । प्रतिपामहाय तन्मात्रे पितृमात्रे ततोऽर्पयेत् ।। २६४.

First, one should give to the father, then to the grandfather; to the great-grandfather, to the mother’s father, and then to the mother’s mother.

तन्मात्रे दक्षिणाग्रेषु कुशेष्वेवं यज्ते पितृन् । इन्द्रवारुणवायव्या याम्या वा नैर्ऋताश्च ये ।। २६४.

In this way, he should offer to the ancestors on blades of sacred grass placed at the southern end, for those who are of Indra, Varuna, Vayu, Yama, or Nairriti.

ते काकाः प्रतिगृह्णन्तु इमं पिण्डं मयोद्धृतम् । काकपिण्डन्तु मन्त्रेण शुनः पिण्डं प्रदापयेत् ।। २६४.

Let the crows accept this rice-ball which I have offered; with the mantra for the crow's rice-ball, he should also give a rice-ball for the dogs.

विवस्वतः कुले जातौ द्वौ श्यावशबलौ शुनौ । तेषां पिण्डं प्रदास्यामि पथि रक्षन्तु मे सदा ।। २६४.

In the family of Vivasvat are born two dogs, one dark and one spotted; to them I shall offer a rice-ball—may they always protect me on the path.

प्रतिगृह्लन्तु मे ग्रासं गावस्त्रैलोक्यमातरः ।। २६४.

May the cows, mothers of the three worlds, accept this food from me.

गोग्रासञ्च स्वस्त्ययनं कृत्वा बिक्षां प्रदापयेत् । अतिथीन्दीनान् पूजयित्वा गृही भुञ्जीत च स्वयं ।। २६४.

After making an offering of food to the cows for auspiciousness, he should give alms; having honored guests and the poor, the householder may then eat himself.

अग्निरुवाच सर्वार्थसाधनं स्नानं वक्ष्ये शान्तिकरं श्रृणु । स्नापयेच्य सरित्तीरे ग्रहान् विष्णु विचक्षणः ।। २६५.

Agni said: I shall explain the bath that accomplishes all aims and brings peace—listen. The wise should bathe the planets on the riverbank, as well as Vishnu.

देवालये ज्वरार्त्त्यादौ विनायकग्रहार्द्दिते । विद्यार्थिनो ह्रदे गेहे जयकामस्य तीर्थके ।। २६५.

In a temple, when afflicted by fever or disease, or troubled by Vinayaka or planetary influences; for a student, in a pond at home; for one desiring victory, at a sacred ford.

पद्मिन्यां स्नापयेन्नारीं गर्भो यस्याः स्नवेत्तथा । अशोकसन्निधौ स्नायाज्जातो यस्या विनश्यति ।। २६५.

A woman whose womb is to be cleansed should be bathed in a lotus pond; in the presence of an Ashoka tree, one whose child has died should bathe.

पुष्पार्थिनाञ्च पुष्पाढ्ये पुत्रार्थिनाञ्च सागरे । गृहसौभाग्यकामानां सर्वेषां विष्णुसन्निधौ ।। २६५.

Those desiring flowers should bathe where flowers abound; those desiring sons, in the ocean; and all who seek household prosperity, in the presence of Vishnu.

वैष्णवे रेवतीपुष्ये सर्वेषां स्नानमुत्तमं । स्नानकामस्य सप्ताहम्पूर्वमुत्सादनं स्मृतं ।। २६५.

For all, the best bath is on the days of Revati or Pushya in the month of Vaishakha; for one desiring a bath, purification for seven days beforehand is prescribed.