Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
जानता च हृषीकेश पुण्डरीकाक्ष माधव नामत्रयोच्चारणतः स्वप्ने यातु मम क्षयं
jānatā ca hṛṣīkeśa puṇḍarīkākṣa mādhava nāmatrayoccāraṇataḥ svapne yātu mama kṣayaṃ
Durch das bewusste Aussprechen der drei Namen—Hṛṣīkeśa, Puṇḍarīkākṣa und Mādhava—möge mein Dahinschwinden (Leiden) vernichtet werden, selbst im Traum.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Tri-nama-japa as a protective prayer for alleviating kṣaya (wasting/decline) and removing inauspicious dream-effects; used at bedtime or during illness.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Hṛṣīkeśa–Puṇḍarīkākṣa–Mādhava tri-nāma for kṣaya-śamana","lookup_keywords":["Hṛṣīkeśa","Puṇḍarīkākṣa","Mādhava","tri-nāma","kṣaya-śamana"],"quick_summary":"Knowingly uttering these three Viṣṇu-names is framed as a mantra-prayoga to pacify wasting affliction, extending protection even into the dream-state."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (name-repetition)
Concept: Nāma as upāya: conscious utterance (jñāna-pūrvaka-japa) purifies and counteracts suffering across waking and dream states.
Application: Adopt daily smaraṇa/japa with attention (not mechanical), especially at liminal times (sandhyā, bedtime).
Khanda Section: Nama-japa and Smarana (Vishnu-sahasranama / Hari-nama-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee seated near a lamp at night, hands in añjali, softly repeating the three names; above, a serene four-armed Viṣṇu with lotus-like eyes appears as a protective vision over the sleeping space.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, four-armed Viṣṇu with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, large lotus eyes emphasized, devotee chanting at bedside with oil lamp, stylized clouds indicating dream-state, ornate floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with gold foil halo and jewelry, lotus-eyed face, devotee below in añjali, small lamp and palm-leaf manuscript, rich reds, embossed ornaments, devotional nocturnal protection theme.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, soft pastel palette, instructional feel: devotee seated in japa posture, text panel showing the three names, Viṣṇu icon above, minimal background, calm night ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate night chamber scene with patterned textiles, devotee reciting, a luminous Viṣṇu apparition in the sky, fine detailing of lamp, manuscripts, and architecture, subdued blues for night."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नामत्रयोच्चारणतः = नामत्रय + उच्चारणतः (तत्पुरुष-समास; -तः पञ्चमी-एकवचन).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172 (nāma-japa, prāyaścitta-prayoga context)
FAQs
It teaches a practical nama-japa prayoga: consciously recite a specific triad of Vishnu names as a protective act intended to neutralize affliction—even arising through dream states.
Alongside topics like polity, medicine, and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves applied devotional technologies (name-mahatmya and japa-prayoga), showing how specific recitations are used for protection and relief from distress.
It frames remembrance of Vishnu through deliberate name-utterance as a purifier and remover of suffering, extending protection to subtle states (dream), implying deep samskara-level cleansing and divine safeguarding.