Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 25
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
विलयं यान्तु ते सर्वे विष्णोरुच्चारणेन च क्षयं गछ्हन्तु चाशेषास्ते चक्राभिहता हरेः
vilayaṃ yāntu te sarve viṣṇoruccāraṇena ca kṣayaṃ gachhantu cāśeṣāste cakrābhihatā hareḥ
Mögen alle feindlichen Mächte schon durch das bloße Aussprechen des Namens Viṣṇus sich auflösen; und mögen sie allesamt, ohne Rest, vernichtet werden—vom Diskus (Sudarśana) Haris niedergestreckt.
Lord Agni (narrating the protective mantra-prayoga to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Apotropaic (protective) japa in situations of fear, hostility, or perceived occult attack; used as a verbal kavaca invoking Viṣṇu and Sudarśana for immediate psychological steadiness and ritual protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-nāmoccāraṇa & Sudarśana-śamana (Hostile-force dissolution)","lookup_keywords":["Viṣṇu-nāma","Sudarśana-cakra","rakṣā-mantra","abhicāra-śamana","Hari"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames Viṣṇu’s name as a dissolving force against hostility, and Hari’s Sudarśana as the decisive remover of remaining threats; recite as a protective formula when danger is felt."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (repetition) and ājñā-rūpa (imperative benediction)
Weapon Type: Chakra (Sudarśana)
Concept: Nāma-śakti (efficacy of divine name) coupled with īśvara-śakti as protective agency.
Application: Use nāma-japa as first response (inner steadiness), then ritualized visualization of Sudarśana for boundary-setting and protection.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi (Protective Mantras and Ritual Protection)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee recites Viṣṇu’s name; hostile shadowy forces dissolve into mist, while Sudarśana-cakra radiates from Hari and strikes remaining threats.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Hari/Viṣṇu standing serene with glowing Sudarśana-cakra, dark bhūta-like silhouettes dissolving, rich earthy reds and greens, bold outlines, sacred aura","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viṣṇu with ornate crown and jewelry, prominent gold-leaf halo, Sudarśana-cakra as a radiant disc, enemies reduced to tiny fading forms, devotional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, devotee in añjali reciting, subtle depiction of mantra waves, Sudarśana disc emanating protective circle, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision, Viṣṇu with stylized disc, swirling clouds where hostile forces vanish, fine detailing, balanced palette, dynamic disc motion"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional-protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇoruccāraṇena = viṣṇoḥ + uccāraṇena; cāśeṣāste = ca + aśeṣāḥ + te; cakrābhihatā = cakra + abhihatāḥ (P.P.P. of √han with abhi-).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 31 (Mantra-vidhi / rakṣā-prayoga context); Agni Purana sections on Viṣṇu-stotra/kavaca materials (general)
FAQs
It teaches a rakṣā-prayoga: protection through Viṣṇu-nāma-uccāraṇa (recitation of Viṣṇu’s name) combined with the imagery/invocation of Hari’s Sudarśana Chakra as a destructive force against hostile influences.
Alongside theology and narrative, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—short, deployable protective utterances (mantra-prayoga) used for apotropaic aims (pacifying and destroying obstacles), showing its coverage of applied devotion and ritual procedure.
The verse frames Viṣṇu-smaraṇa as intrinsically purifying and protective: remembrance/recitation is presented as a force that dissolves negativity and culminates in the removal of harmful karmic or hostile obstructions through divine intervention (Sudarśana).