Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 48 — Account of the Hymn to the Twenty-Four Forms
Caturviṁśati-mūrti-stotra-kathana
तेने गदी शङ्खचक्री वासुदेवोब्जभृज्जगत् सङ्कर्षणो गदी शङ्खी पद्मी चक्री च पातु वः
tene gadī śaṅkhacakrī vāsudevobjabhṛjjagat saṅkarṣaṇo gadī śaṅkhī padmī cakrī ca pātu vaḥ
Möge Vāsudeva—der Keule, Muschel und Diskus trägt und den Lotos hält—die Welt beschützen; und möge Saṅkarṣaṇa—der Keule und Muschel trägt und ebenso Lotos und Diskus—euch behüten.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Protective recitation (rakṣā) invoking Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa with specified āyudhas; suitable for nyāsa/āvaraṇa protection in pūjā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Rakṣā-invocation of Vyūhas: Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa with āyudhas","lookup_keywords":["Vasudeva","Sankarshana","vyuha","raksha mantra","ayudha"],"quick_summary":"A protective formula calling the first two Pāñcarātra vyūhas, each identified by emblem-combinations, for safeguarding the world and the reciter."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa and parallelism (yugma-racanā)
Concept: Vyūha-upāsanā: approaching the one Lord through functional emanations (Vāsudeva/Saṅkarṣaṇa) for protection and order.
Application: Recite as a protective kavaca-like segment during pūjā, before travel, or at the start of vrata/japa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vishnu-stotra (Protective Mantras and Iconography)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two divine forms (Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa) shown as regal Viṣṇu manifestations, each with distinct arrangement of conch, discus, mace, and lotus, extending protection over devotees/world.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, twin-panel composition: Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa as vyūhas, four-armed, clear āyudha placement, protective hand-gestures, cosmic backdrop with subtle world motif, traditional ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style diptych, Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa seated/standing on lotus pedestals, heavy gold embellishment, bright halos, devotees below, emphasis on conch-disc-mace-lotus details","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: labels near each āyudha, symmetrical layout of two vyūhas, soft colors, fine detailing of crowns and ornaments, protective aura around figures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, two divine figures in a garden pavilion, intricate textiles, conch/discus/mace/lotus rendered with jewel-like precision, small figures representing ‘world’ and ‘you’ under protection"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वासुदेवोब्जभृज्जगत् = वासुदेवः + अब्जभृत् + जगत् (ः + अ → ओ; भृत् + जगत् → भृज्जगत्)
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Puja-vidhi: protective mantras and Viṣṇu-stotra sequences around chapter 48
FAQs
It gives a kavacha-style protective invocation using Viṣṇu’s vyūha-forms (Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa) identified through their canonical emblems (gadā, śaṅkha, cakra, padma), a standard ritual technique for dhyāna and rakṣā (protection).
Alongside law, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical liturgical material—stotras, kavacha-invocations, and iconographic identifiers—showing how theology is applied in worship and protective recitation.
Reciting and contemplating these forms of Viṣṇu as protector is presented as rakṣā (warding off harm) and śuddhi (inner purification) through single-pointed remembrance of the divine attributes and names.