Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 9

Chapter 323 — The Six-Limbed Aghora Astras (षडङ्गान्यघोरस्त्राणि)

Devanagari script

रुद्रशान्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवां सर्वार्थसाधनीं पुत्रर्थं ग्रहनाशार्थं विषव्याधिविनष्टये

Transliteration

rudraśāntiṃ pravakṣyāmi śivāṃ sarvārthasādhanīṃ putrarthaṃ grahanāśārthaṃ viṣavyādhivinaṣṭaye

Translation

Nun werde ich die Rudra-Śānti darlegen—ein glückverheißendes, alle Ziele verwirklichendes Sühne- und Befriedungsritual—(vollzogen) zur Erlangung eines Sohnes, zur Beseitigung planetarer Bedrängnisse sowie zur Vernichtung von Gift und Krankheiten.

Word by Word

• रुद्र-शान्तिम्: Rudra-pacification rite
• रुद्र-शान्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य शान्तिः)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शिवाम्: auspicious
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रुद्रशान्तिम्)

• सर्व-अर्थ-साधनीम्: accomplishing all aims
• सर्व-अर्थ-साधनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + साधनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् अर्थानाम् साधनी)

• पुत्र-अर्थम्: for obtaining a son
• पुत्र-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अर्थे (हेतौ/प्रयोजने) अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• ग्रह-नाश-अर्थम्: for destroying (evil) ग्रह influences
• ग्रह-नाश-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अर्थे (हेतौ)

• विष-व्याधि-विनष्टये: for the removal of poison-diseases
• विष-व्याधि-विनष्टये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक) + विनष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विषव्याधेः विनष्टिः)

Speaker

Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana’s ritual sections to Sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Rudra-Śānti as a pacificatory rite for putra-prāpti, graha-doṣa mitigation, and protection from viṣa/roga.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rudra-Śānti: aims and protective scope","lookup_keywords":["Rudra-śānti","putrārtha","graha-nāśa","viṣa","vyādhi-śānti"],"quick_summary":"Defines the intended fruits of Rudra-Śānti: progeny, relief from planetary afflictions, and neutralization of poison and disease through Śiva-oriented pacification."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śiva-śānti as sarvārtha-sādhanī (multi-purpose pacificatory sādhanā).

Application: Use a single Śaiva śānti framework to address diverse anxieties—progeny, fate/planets, toxins, illness—by ritual ordering and devotion.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Shaanti-Kalpa (Rudra-Śānti / Graha-Śānti and protective rites)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śaiva priest begins teaching the Rudra-Śānti, with a homa-kuṇḍa, bilva leaves, rudrākṣa, and a family seeking progeny and protection from illness/poison.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Rudra-Śānti homa scene, Śiva’s presence as subtle aura behind the priest, traditional lamps, bilva leaves, muted earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Śiva blessing a couple seeking a son, gold foil halo, homa altar in foreground, rich jewel tones, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual setup: homa-kuṇḍa, ladle, offerings, priest demonstrating śānti procedure, delicate linework, soft shading, labeled implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly household performing Rudra-Śānti for protection from poison and disease, detailed textiles, small homa fire, attendants with offerings, fine architectural interior"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: रुद्रशान्तिं = रुद्र-शान्तिम्; सर्वार्थसाधनीं = सर्व-अर्थ-साधनीम्; पुत्रर्थं/ग्रहनाशार्थं treated as अव्ययीभाव with अर्थम्; विषव्याधिविनष्टये = विष-व्याधि-विनष्टये.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 323 (Śānti-kalpa context); Agni Purana Graha-śānti sections (elsewhere in ritual chapters)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Graha (planetary influences)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It announces the Rudra-Śānti (Śiva-pacification) rite as a practical ritual application for three outcomes: progeny (putrārtha), mitigation of graha-afflictions (grahanāśa), and protection/healing from poison and disease (viṣa-vyādhi-vināśa).

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

By linking a single Śaanti-kalpa rite to multiple domains—family welfare (progeny), Jyotiṣa-related afflictions (graha-doṣa), and health/protection (poison and disease)—the text demonstrates its multi-disciplinary, handbook-like coverage of ritual solutions for worldly and spiritual problems.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Rudra-Śānti is framed as an auspicious, merit-producing pacification that removes obstructive forces (grahas and ailments) and supports dharmic household aims such as progeny, implying purification and the restoration of harmony through Śiva’s appeasement.