Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 14
Śrīrāmāvatāravarṇanam (Description of Śrī Rāma’s Incarnation) — Ayodhyā Abhiṣeka, Vanavāsa, Daśaratha’s Death, Bharata’s Regency
रात्रौ भर्ता गतस्तत्र रक्षितो विद्यया त्वया वरद्वयन्तदा प्रादाद् याचेदानीं नृपञ्च तत्
rātrau bhartā gatastatra rakṣito vidyayā tvayā varadvayantadā prādād yācedānīṃ nṛpañca tat
ليلًا مضى الزوجُ إلى هناك؛ وبفضل الـ«فِدْيَا» (vidyā) التي منحتِها له حُفِظَ وصِين، فوهب حينئذٍ نعمتين (بونين). والآن فليطلبِ الملكُ أيضًا ما يشتهي.
Lord Agni (narrating the episode in the Agni Purana’s dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Protective vidyā (rakṣā) and boon-granting logic: employing protective rites/mantras for safe movement at night and understanding the social-ritual mechanism of varadāna (granting boons).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Night protection by vidyā and the granting of two boons","lookup_keywords":["raksha vidya","night protection","two boons","varadana","king request"],"quick_summary":"A husband goes at night safeguarded by a protective vidyā given by the addressee; in gratitude he grants two boons, prompting the king to request his desired boon as well."}
Alamkara Type: Kārya-kāraṇa (cause-effect narration)
Concept: Vidyā used as rakṣā yields tangible worldly outcomes (safety, boons); boons bind giver and receiver through obligation and intention.
Application: Use protective recitations/ritual safeguards before risky undertakings; be mindful that boons/promises create ethical constraints.
Khanda Section: Narrative / Itihasa-katha (Protective Vidya and Boon-bestowal episode)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A night-time departure: the husband sets out under a protective vidyā aura; afterward he grants two boons, with a king poised to ask for a boon.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, nocturnal palace-garden scene with deep blues, a protective aura (mandala-like) around the departing husband, the vidyā-giver in blessing gesture, later panel showing boon-granting with formal hand gesture, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure granting two boons with gold-embossed halo, night scene stylized with dark backdrop, protective yantra-like motif in gold, king shown respectfully requesting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear sequential narrative: (1) night journey with protective circle, (2) boon-granting audience scene, fine linework and soft colors, emphasis on ritual gesture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, moonlit departure with detailed landscape, subtle luminous aura indicating protection, then a court scene with the boon-granting figure and the king petitioning, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गतस्तत्र → गतः तत्र; वरद्वयन्तदा → वरद्वयम् तदा; याचेदानीं → याचेत् अदानीम्; नृपञ्च → नृपम् च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra/vidyā and rakṣā-related chapters (protective rites, kavaca-type materials); Agni Purana narrative passages on varas (boons) and their consequences
FAQs
The verse highlights a protective vidyā—knowledge/mantric power by which a person is ‘rakṣita’ (kept safe), enabling successful entry or action at night and culminating in boon-bestowal.
It shows the Purana’s integration of narrative with applied spiritual technology (vidyā as protection) and royal-context instruction (the king is prompted to request boons), blending story, praxis, and governance-adjacent counsel.
It implies that rightly received and applied vidyā safeguards the practitioner and leads to auspicious outcomes (like obtaining boons), reinforcing the merit of disciplined knowledge and proper guidance.