Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 17
Mantras for the Parasol and Other Royal/Worship Emblems (छत्रादिमन्त्रादयः)
भर्तारं रक्ष नागेन्द्र समयः परिपाल्यतां ऐरावताधिरूढस्तु वज्रहस्तः शतक्रतुः
bhartāraṃ rakṣa nāgendra samayaḥ paripālyatāṃ airāvatādhirūḍhastu vajrahastaḥ śatakratuḥ
«احْمِ سيدَكَ، يا ناغيندرا (ملك الحيّات)؛ ولْيُصَنِ العهدُ صونًا تامًّا. فإن شاتاكْراتو (إندرا)، حامل الفَجْرَا، راكبًا إيرافاتا، قائمٌ شاهدًا وضامنًا ومنفِّذًا.»
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic instruction in a stotra/pledge context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Oath/pact-protection prayer (samaya-rakṣā) invoking Indra as guarantor; used to enforce fidelity, alliance, or protective covenant in ritual-political contexts.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Indra–Nāga samaya-rakṣā (pact-keeping protection)","lookup_keywords":["samaya-raksha","nagaindra","indra vajrahasta","airavata"],"quick_summary":"Frames protection as covenant-keeping: the Nāga-king is urged to guard the lord and uphold the pact, with Indra on Airāvata as the enforcing witness."}
Alamkara Type: Udbodhana (direct address)
Weapon Type: Vajra (Indra’s thunderbolt)
Concept: Samaya-pālana (keeping one’s pact) as protective dharma; divine order supports truthful agreements.
Application: In governance and war, stabilize relations by sanctifying treaties/oaths and treating breach as adharma with consequences.
Khanda Section: Stotra / Devata-prarthana (Indra–Naga samaya-raksha)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Nāga-king is addressed to protect a lord; above or behind, Indra with vajra sits atop Airāvata as a stern witness to the pact.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic Indra on white Airāvata with raised vajra, Nāgendra multi-hooded in reverent posture, the protected lord centered, bold outlines and ritual intensity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Indra and Airāvata with heavy gold ornament, vajra highlighted in gold, Nāga-king with jeweled hoods, formal covenant scene with auspicious symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, elegant Indra iconography with precise vajra, calm but authoritative expressions, clear narrative of pact-keeping with gesture-based communication.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly treaty scene with a serpent-king rendered mythically, Indra on Airāvata in the sky margin, fine detailing of textiles and weapon."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऐरावताधिरूढस्तु→ऐरावताधिरूढः तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 268 (rakṣā-stotra and yuddha-prayoga context)
FAQs
It functions as a rakṣā-style injunction: uphold a sworn pact (samaya) and invoke Indra (Vajrahasta, Airāvata-rider) as the divine enforcer/witness for protection and compliance.
It preserves a compact mythic-ritual formula combining nāga-lore, Indra iconography (Vajra, Airāvata), and dharma of oath-keeping—showing how the Agni Purana integrates theology, ritual language, and ethical governance of promises.
Keeping samaya (a pledged agreement) is treated as dharmic conduct that sustains order and protection; invoking Indra underscores that vow-breaking invites divine retribution, while vow-keeping supports merit and safety.