Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Tvaritājñānam
Knowledge of Tvaritā, the Swift Goddess) — Agni Purana, Adhyāya 314 (as introduced after 313
कुम्भववद्धारिता सर्वशत्रुहृत् सर्वदायिका विषन्नश्येत् कर्णजपादक्षराद्यैश् च दण्डकैः
kumbhavavaddhāritā sarvaśatruhṛt sarvadāyikā viṣannaśyet karṇajapādakṣarādyaiś ca daṇḍakaiḥ
إذا حُفِظَ وثُبِّتَ بإحكام كالجَرّة (أي كتعويذةٍ أو طقسٍ للحماية)، صار مُزيلًا لجميع الأعداء وواهِبًا لكل العطايا؛ ويُقضى على الكآبة بالهمس به في الأذن، وكذلك بتلاوة الصيغ الموزونة التي تبدأ بالمقاطع (akṣara-ādi) وبأبيات الدَّنْدَكَة (daṇḍaka).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual/mantra applications)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Rakṣā-kalpa: using mantra as a secured talisman/retention rite; ear-whisper (karṇa-japa) and specific metrical recitations (daṇḍaka) for removing dejection and neutralizing hostility.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Karna-japa and dhāraṇa of mantra for rakṣā (enemy-removal, gift-bestowal)","lookup_keywords":["raksha-kalpa","karna-japa","dharana","dandaka","shatru-hara"],"quick_summary":"The verse teaches that a mantra, when firmly ‘retained’ as a protective rite/talisman, functions as an all-purpose protector and benefactor; dejection is countered by whispering it into the ear and by reciting akṣara-ādi and daṇḍaka metrical formulas."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Śabda (mantra) gains protective potency through niyama: dhāraṇa (retention/secure keeping) and japa-vidhi (ear-whisper, metrical recitation).
Application: Adopt disciplined recitation modes (karṇa-japa, chandas-bound daṇḍaka) and secure keeping of the mantra-object for protective and confidence-restoring outcomes.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya & Raksha-kalpa (Protective rites / occult-ritual instructions)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka holds a sealed mantra-talisman ‘like a jar’, whispering a mantra into a devotee’s ear; nearby are palm/birch manuscripts with daṇḍaka verses, suggesting structured recitation dispelling gloom and warding enemies.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, sādhaka in white dhoti performing karṇa-japa to a seated devotee, a sealed kumbha-like talisman in hand, stylized manuscript leaves with Sanskrit syllables, protective aura motifs, minimal background architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halo, central figure of a mantra-upāsaka holding a small sealed amulet/kumbha-symbol, right hand near the devotee’s ear (karṇa-japa), ornate borders, gold highlights on manuscript and protective yantra motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional composition: left panel shows dhāraṇa of talisman, right panel shows karṇa-japa; include clear birch manuscript with daṇḍaka text blocks and akṣara-ādi syllable rows.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior with a learned sādhaka whispering into a patron’s ear, a small sealed talisman on a tray, scribes holding manuscripts with daṇḍaka verses, fine detailing, subdued palette, emphasis on gesture and text objects."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुम्भववद् → कुम्भवत् (द्वित्व-लेखदोष/सन्धि-समायोजन). विषन्नश्येत् → विषत् नश्येत् (त् + न → न्न). कर्णजपादक्षराद्यैश् → कर्णजपात् अक्षराद्यैः (त् + अ → त् अ; 'श्' = visarga/sandhi spelling).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314 (Tvaritājñāna conclusion and transition to stambhanādi-mantrāḥ); Agni Purana 315 (stambhana-mohana-vaśya etc. mantras, as the operational context of rakṣā/abhicāra)
FAQs
It teaches practical mantra-application methods: dhāraṇa (retaining/keeping the mantra as a protective support), karṇa-japa (whispered recitation into the ear), and the use of specific metrical recitations such as akṣara-ādi formulas and daṇḍaka verses for protective and prosperity-oriented results.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual technology—how mantras are deployed (wearing/keeping, whisper-japa, and metrical formats). This is characteristic of the Agni Purana’s wide scope, cataloguing procedural details alongside doctrine.
The verse frames mantra-practice as both protective (enemy-removal) and restorative (dispelling viṣāda, dejection), implying purification of mind and circumstances through disciplined japa and correct ritual deployment.