This is Chapter 202 from "Shree Agni-Purana".
Starting from the matter of offering flowers to Bhagavan Shree Vishnu it deepens further into the idea of
offering the internal flowers (such as satya and etc.) to Bhagavan Shree Hari.
offering the internal flowers (such as satya and etc.) to Bhagavan Shree Hari.
Some cites I have liked very much:
"Bhagavan Shree Vishnu would get pleased with all (that is offered) with Bhakti" - it means that it is entirely futile to offer something to Bhagavan Shree Vishnu without Bhakti (Loving Devotion), see this article "Worship offered without Loving Devotion is as good as not offered" - link)
"A flower is more meritorious than a lakh of gold and a garland, more than a crore times" - yes, rather unusual statement, but as you know the offering of gold and precious gems is also prescribed in Vaishnava-Tantras
"Earnestness is The Flower for Bhagavan Shree Vishnu" - this cite means that Bhakti should be very sincere as insincere and deceitful Bhakti is classified as utterly tamasik in "Shree Narada-Purana".
The Sanskrit version below is from GRETIL - http://gretil.sub.uni-goettingen.de/gretil/1_sanskr/3_purana/agp_bi_u.htm
English translation is from 1998 Motilal Banasirdass Edition of "Shree Agni-Purana" - http://vishnudut1926.blogspot.ru/2015/01/agni-purana-parts-12-chapters-001-383.html
पुष्पाध्यायकथनं
puShpAdhyAyakathanaM
अग्निर् उवाच
पुष्पगन्धधूपदीपनैवेद्यैस्तुष्यते हरिः /AP_२०२.००१अब्/
पुष्पाणि देवयोग्यानि ह्य् अयोग्यानि वदामि ते //AP_२०२.००१च्द्/
agnir uvAcha
puShpagandhadhUpadIpanaivedyaistuShyate hariH /AP_202.001ab/
puShpANi devayogyAni hy ayogyAni vadAmi te //AP_202.001chd/
पुष्पं श्रेष्ठं मालती च तमालो भुक्तिमुक्तिमान् /AP_२०२.००२अब्/
मल्लिका सर्वपापघ्नी यूथिका विष्णुलोकदा //AP_२०२.००२च्द्/
puShpaM shreShThaM mAlatI cha tamAlo bhuktimuktimAn /AP_202.002ab/
mallikA sarvapApaghnI yUthikA viShNulokadA //AP_202.002chd/
Fire-god said :
✿✿✿1-2. Lord Hari gets pleased with flowers, perfumes, incense, lamps and offerings.
I shall describe you flowers which are fit and unfit for Bhagavan Shree Vishnu.
Malati is the excellent flower.
Tamila (flower) confers enjoyment and emancipation.
MallikA (jasmine) destroys all sins.
YUthika gets The World of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Shree VishnuLoka).
अतिमुक्तमयं तद्वत् पाटला विष्णुलोकदा /AP_२०२.००३अब्/
करवीरैर् विष्णुलोकी जवापुष्पैश् च पुण्यवान् //AP_२०२.००३च्द्/
atimuktamayaM tadvat pATalA viShNulokadA /AP_202.003ab/
karavIrair viShNulokI javApuShpaish cha puNyavAn //AP_202.003chd/
✿✿✿3. Atimukta will also get the same fruit.
The Patala (flower) conveys one to The World of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Shree VishnuLoka).
One gets The World of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Shree VishnuLoka) with the karavira (flowers).
One becomes fortunate with japa (flowers).
पावन्तीकुब्जकाद्यैश् च तगरैर् विष्णुलोकभाक् /AP_२०२.००४अब्/
कर्णिकारैर् विष्णुलोकः करुण्ठैः पापनाशनं //AP_२०२.००४च्द्/
pAvantIkubjakAdyaish cha tagarair viShNulokabhAk /AP_202.004ab/
karNikArair viShNulokaH karuNThaiH pApanAshanaM //AP_202.004chd/
✿✿✿4. One would reach The World of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Shree VishnuLoka) with the pavanti, kubjaka and tagara (flowers).
One would reach The World of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Shree VishnuLoka) with the karnikara.
There would be destruction of sin with kuruntha.
पद्मैश् च केतकीभिश् च कुन्दपुष्पैः परा गतिः /AP_२०२.००५अब्/
वाणपुष्पैर् वर्वराभिः कृष्णाभिर्हरिलोकभाक् //AP_२०२.००५च्द्/
padmaish cha ketakIbhish cha kundapuShpaiH parA gatiH /AP_202.005ab/
vANapuShpair varvarAbhiH kRRiShNAbhirharilokabhAk //AP_202.005chd/
अशोकैस्तिलकैस्तद्वदटरूषभवैस् तथा /AP_२०२.००६अब्/
मुक्तिभागी बिल्वपत्रैः शमीपत्रैः परा गतिः //AP_२०२.००६च्द्/
ashokaistilakaistadvadaTarUShabhavais tathA /AP_202.006ab/
muktibhAgI bilvapatraiH shamIpatraiH parA gatiH //AP_202.006chd/
✿✿✿5-6. One will have an excellent position with lotuses, ketaki and jasmine.
One would reach The World of Bhagavan Shree Hari with bana flowers, barbara and krishna.
Similar result would be obtained by ashoka, tilaka and atarushabhava.
The leaves of bilva would confer liberation.
One will have the supreme position with the leaves of shami.
विष्णुलोकी भृङ्गराजैस्तमालस्य दलैस् तथा /AP_२०२.००७अब्/
तुलसी कृष्णगौराख्या कल्हारोत्पलकानि च //AP_२०२.००७च्द्/
viShNulokI bhRRi~NgarAjaistamAlasya dalais tathA /AP_202.007ab/
tulasI kRRiShNagaurAkhyA kalhArotpalakAni cha //AP_202.007chd/
पद्मं कोकनदं पुण्यं शताब्जमालया हरिः /AP_२०२.००८अब्/
नीपार्जुनकदम्बैश् च(१) वकुलैश् च सुगन्धिभिः //AP_२०२.००८च्द्/
padmaM kokanadaM puNyaM shatAbjamAlayA hariH /AP_202.008ab/
nIpArjunakadambaish cha(1) vakulaish cha sugandhibhiH //AP_202.008chd/
किंशुकैर् मुनिपुष्पैस्तु गोकर्णैर् नागकर्णकैः /AP_२०२.००९अब्/
सन्ध्यापुष्पैर् बिल्वतकै रञ्जनीकेतकीभवैः(२) //AP_२०२.००९च्द्/
kiMshukair munipuShpaistu gokarNair nAgakarNakaiH /AP_202.009ab/
sandhyApuShpair bilvatakai ra~njanIketakIbhavaiH(2) //AP_202.009chd/
कुष्माण्डतिमिरोत्थैश् च कुशकाशशरोद्भवैः /AP_२०२.०१०अब्/
द्यूतादिभिर्मरुवकैः पत्रैरन्यैः सुगन्धिकैः //AP_२०२.०१०च्द्/
kuShmANDatimirotthaish cha kushakAshasharodbhavaiH /AP_202.010ab/
dyUtAdibhirmaruvakaiH patrairanyaiH sugandhikaiH //AP_202.010chd/
भुक्तिमुक्तिः पापहानिर्भक्त्या सर्वैस्तु तुष्यति /AP_२०२.०११अब्/
स्वर्णलक्षाधिकं पुष्पं माला कोटिगुणाधिका //AP_२०२.०११च्द्/
bhuktimuktiH pApahAnirbhaktyA sarvaistu tuShyati /AP_202.011ab/
svarNalakShAdhikaM puShpaM mAlA koTiguNAdhikA //AP_202.011chd/
✿✿✿7-11. One would reach The World of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Shree VishnuLoka) with the bhrngaraja.
One would have same fruits with the leaves of tamala.
TULASI (The black and white Basil), white lotus, blue lotuses, lotus, red lotus are meritorious.
Lord Hari gets pleased with a garland of hundred lotuses.
One would get enjoyment and emancipation and destruction of sin with
nipa,
arjunaa,
kadamba,
vakula,
fragrant kimshuka,
munipushpa,
gokarna,
nagakarna,
sandhya flower,
bilva,
ranjani,
ketaki,
кushmanda,
timira,
kusha,
kasha,
sara,
dyuta,
maruvaka leaves
and other fragrant (leaves and flowers).
Bhagavan Shree Vishnu would get pleased with all that is offered with Bhakti.
A flower is more meritorious than a lakh of gold and a garland, more than a crore times.
स्ववने ऽन्यवने पुष्पैस्त्रिगुणं वनजैः फलं(३) /AP_२०२.०१२अब्/
विशीर्णैर्नार्चयेद्विष्णुन्नाधिकाङ्गैर्न मोटितैः //AP_२०२.०१२च्द्/
svavane .anyavane puShpaistriguNaM vanajaiH phalaM(3) /AP_202.012ab/
vishIrNairnArchayedviShNunnAdhikA~Ngairna moTitaiH //AP_202.012chd/
काञ्चनारैस्तथोन्मत्तैर्गिरिकर्णिकया तथा /AP_२०२.०१३अब्/
कुटजैः शाल्मलीयैश् च(१) शिरीषैर् नरकादिकं //AP_२०२.०१३च्द्/
kA~nchanAraistathonmattairgirikarNikayA tathA /AP_202.013ab/
kuTajaiH shAlmalIyaish cha(1) shirIShair narakAdikaM //AP_202.013chd/
सुगन्धैर्ब्रह्मपद्मैश् च(२) पुष्पैर्नीलोत्पलैर्हरिः(३) /AP_२०२.०१४अब्/
अर्कमन्दारधुस्तूरकुसुमैरर्च्यते हरः //AP_२०२.०१४च्द्/
sugandhairbrahmapadmaish cha(2) puShpairnIlotpalairhariH(3) /AP_202.014ab/
arkamandAradhustUrakusumairarchyate haraH //AP_202.014chd/
कुटजैः कर्कटीपुष्पैः केतकीन्न शिवे ददेत् /AP_२०२.०१५अब्/
कुष्माण्डनिम्बसम्भूतं पैशाचं गन्धवर्जितं //AP_२०२.०१५च्द्/
kuTajaiH karkaTIpuShpaiH ketakInna shive dadet /AP_202.015ab/
kuShmANDanimbasambhUtaM paishAchaM gandhavarjitaM //AP_202.015chd/
✿✿✿12-15. It would be three times more meritorious with the forest flowers than with the flowers from one’s own garden or another’s garden.
One should not worship Bhagavan Shree Vishnu with withered or broken (flowers) or (flowers) having more than the usual parts.
One would reach hell by worshipping with kanchanara, unmatta, girikarnika, kutaja shalmaliya and shirisha.
Lord Hari is pleased with sugandha, brahma, lotuses and blue lotuses.
Lord Нага (Shiva MahaDeva) is worshipped with arka mandara and dhustura flowers.
One should not offer kutaja, karkati flowers and ketaki to Shiva MahaDeva.
One should not use kushmanda, nimba and wild flowers without fragrance in Worship.
अहिंसा इन्द्रियजयः(४) क्षान्तिर्ज्ञानं(५) दया श्रुतं /AP_२०२.०१६अब्/
भावाष्तपुष्पैः सम्पूज्य देवान् स्याद् भुक्तिमुक्तिभाक् //AP_२०२.०१६च्द्/
ahiMsA indriyajayaH(4) kShAntirj~nAnaM(5) dayA shrutaM /AP_202.016ab/
bhAvAShtapuShpaiH sampUjya devAn syAd bhuktimuktibhAk //AP_202.016chd/
अहिंसा प्रथमं पुष्पं पुष्पमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः /AP_२०२.०१७अब्/
सर्वपुष्पं दया भूते पुष्पं शान्तिर्विशिष्यते //AP_२०२.०१७च्द्/
ahiMsA prathamaM puShpaM puShpamindriyanigrahaH /AP_202.017ab/
sarvapuShpaM dayA bhUte puShpaM shAntirvishiShyate //AP_202.017chd/
शमः पुष्पं तपः पुष्पं ध्यानं पुष्पं च सप्तमं /AP_२०२.०१८अब्/
सत्यञ्चैवाष्टमं पुष्पमेतैस्तुष्यति केशवः //AP_२०२.०१८च्द्/
shamaH puShpaM tapaH puShpaM dhyAnaM puShpaM cha saptamaM /AP_202.018ab/
satya~nchaivAShTamaM puShpametaistuShyati keshavaH //AP_202.018chd/
✿✿✿16-18. One would get enjoyment and emancipation by worshipping Bhagavan Shree Vishnu and MahaDeva Shiva with the eight flowers of gestures such as non-violence, conquest of senses, forbearance, knowledge, compassion and learning.
Non-violence is the first flower.
The second flower is the control of senses.
Compassion for the beings is (said to be) all flowers.
The flower of tranquility excells.
Quietitude is a flower and penance is a flower.
Meditation is the seventh flower.
Truth is the eighth flower.
Bhagavan Shree Keshava is pleased with these flowers.
एतैरेवाष्टभिः पुष्पैस्तुष्यत्येवार्चितो हरिः /AP_२०२.०१९अब्/
पुष्पान्तराणि सन्त्यत्र वाह्यानि मनुजोत्तम //AP_२०२.०१९च्द्/
etairevAShTabhiH puShpaistuShyatyevArchito hariH /AP_202.019ab/
puShpAntarANi santyatra vAhyAni manujottama //AP_202.019chd/
भक्त्या दयान्वितैर्विष्णुः पूजितः परितुष्यति(६) /AP_२०२.०२०अब्/
वारुणं सलिलं पुष्पं सौम्यं घृतपयोदधि //AP_२०२.०२०च्द्/
bhaktyA dayAnvitairviShNuH pUjitaH parituShyati(6) /AP_202.020ab/
vAruNaM salilaM puShpaM saumyaM ghRRitapayodadhi //AP_202.020chd/
प्राजापत्यं तथान्नादि आग्नेयं धूपदीपकं /AP_२०२.०२१अब्/
फलपुष्पादिकञ्चैव वानस्पत्यन्तु पञ्चमं //AP_२०२.०२१च्द्/
prAjApatyaM tathAnnAdi AgneyaM dhUpadIpakaM /AP_202.021ab/
phalapuShpAdika~nchaiva vAnaspatyantu pa~nchamaM //AP_202.021chd/
पार्थिवं कुशमूलाद्यं वायव्यं गन्धचन्दनं /AP_२०२.०२२अब्/
श्रद्धाख्यं विष्णुपुष्पञ्च सर्वदा चाष्टपुष्पिकाः //AP_२०२.०२२च्द्/
pArthivaM kushamUlAdyaM vAyavyaM gandhachandanaM /AP_202.022ab/
shraddhAkhyaM viShNupuShpa~ncha sarvadA chAShTapuShpikAH //AP_202.022chd/
आसनं मूर्तिपञ्चाङ्गं(१) विष्णुर्वा चाष्टपुष्पिकाः /AP_२०२.०२३अब्/
विष्णोस्तु वासुदेवाद्यैरीशानाद्यैः शिवस्य वा //AP_२०२.०२३च्द्/
AsanaM mUrtipa~nchA~NgaM(1) viShNurvA chAShTapuShpikAH /AP_202.023ab/
viShNostu vAsudevAdyairIshAnAdyaiH shivasya vA //AP_202.023chd/
✿✿✿19-23. When Bhagavan Shree Hari is worshipped with these flowers, He certainly gets pleased.
О Excellent among men ! There are other external flowers. When Lord Vishnu is worshipped with Bhakti together with compassion, He gets pleased.
Water is the flower for Varuna.
Ghee, milk and curd are the flowers for Soma.
Food etc. are the flowers for Prajapati (Brahma) and incense and lamp for Fire-god.
The fifth flower is the fruits and flowers of the forest. The kuia, roots etc. are the flowers of the earth.
Fragrant sandal is that of the Wind (god).
Earnestness is The Flower for Bhagavan Shree Vishnu.
These are always the eight flowers.
The seat, the form, the five limbs (such as the heart etc.) and Bhagavan Shree Vishnu are the eight flowers.
Worship should be made with The Names) Vasudeva and Others for Bhagavan Shree Vishnu and Ishana and Others for Shiva MahaDeva.
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे पुष्पाध्यायो नाम द्व्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः ||
ity Agneye mahApurANe puShpAdhyAyo nAma dvyadhikadvishatatamo .adhyAyaH ||
