Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 17
Sāma-vidhāna
Procedure of the Sāman Hymns
वैरूप्यस्याष्टकं नित्यं प्रयुञ्जानः श्रियं लभेत् सप्ताष्टकं प्रयुञ्जानः सर्वान् कामानवाप्नुयात् शपन्त्वहन्निति रिपून् नाशयेद्धोमजाप्यतः इन्द्र वनं वनिक् चेतीति घ , ज च अग्ने सौभाग्य इत्य् एतदिति ज त्वमुत्तममितीत्येतद्यशोबुद्धिविवर्धनं
vairūpyasyāṣṭakaṃ nityaṃ prayuñjānaḥ śriyaṃ labhet saptāṣṭakaṃ prayuñjānaḥ sarvān kāmānavāpnuyāt śapantvahanniti ripūn nāśayeddhomajāpyataḥ indra vanaṃ vanik cetīti gha , ja ca agne saubhāgya ity etaditi ja tvamuttamamitītyetadyaśobuddhivivardhanaṃ
Wer regelmäßig die mit der Beseitigung von Entstellung verbundene «Aṣṭaka» anwendet (rezitiert), erlangt Śrī (Wohlstand). Wer die «Saptāṣṭaka» anwendet, erreicht alle gewünschten Ziele. Durch Japa und Homa der Formel «śapantu … ahan» vernichtet man die Feinde. Es gibt auch Rezitationen wie «indra vanaṃ vanik ceti …», «agne saubhāgya …» und «tvam uttamam …»; die letzte wird als vermehrend von Ruhm und Einsicht erklärt.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, per the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Regular japa of specified aṣṭaka/saptāṣṭaka for prosperity and wish-fulfilment; homa-japa for śatru-nāśa (enemy-destruction) and for enhancing yaśas and buddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṣṭaka/Saptāṣṭaka prayogas for śrī, kāma-siddhi, śatru-nāśa, yaśas-buddhi","lookup_keywords":["vairūpya-aṣṭaka","saptāṣṭaka","śatru-nāśa","homa-japa","yaśas-buddhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse catalogs mantra-sets: one for removing deformity-related inauspiciousness and gaining prosperity, one for fulfilling desires, one for destroying enemies via homa-japa, and others for luck, fame, and intelligence."}
Concept: Mantra as applied knowledge: specific textual units (aṣṭaka) mapped to specific results (phala).
Application: Choose mantra-set by goal (śrī/kāma/śatru-nāśa/yaśas-buddhi); maintain nitya-abhyāsa (regularity) and pair with homa where prescribed.
Khanda Section: Mantra-japa and Homa-vidhi (Protective chants, prosperity rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual manual-like scene showing a practitioner reciting aṣṭaka verses, then performing homa for enemy-destruction; separate panels indicate prosperity, wish-fulfilment, and fame/intelligence outcomes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, multi-panel narrative: left—japa with rosary and palm-leaf; center—homa with offerings; right—symbolic enemies dissolving into smoke; captions for aṣṭaka/saptāṣṭaka, ornate floral borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, triptych composition with gold-leaf flames and haloed Agni; prosperity symbols (lotus, coins) and a scholar’s book for buddhi; mantra bands in stylized script","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic instructional art: labeled ‘aṣṭaka’, ‘saptāṣṭaka’, ‘homa-japa’; calm scholar-priest, neat implements, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly patron commissioning a priest; detailed manuscript folios, small fire-altar, attendants; symbolic depiction of ‘enemies’ as shadowy figures fading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vairūpyasyāṣṭakaṃ → vairūpyasya + aṣṭakam; kāmānavāpnuyāt → kāmān + avāpnuyāt; śapantvahanniti → śapantu + ahan + iti; nāśayeddhomajāpyataḥ → nāśayet + homa-jāpyataḥ; tvamuttamamitītyetadyaśobuddhivivardhanaṃ → tvam + uttamam + iti + etat + yaśaḥ-buddhi-vivardhanam. Several mantra-quote fragments and editorial markers (gha/ja) in the source are omitted as non-lexical.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 260 (protective and prosperity mantra-prayogas)
FAQs
It teaches specific mantra-prayoga: daily japa of an Aṣṭaka for prosperity, japa of a Saptāṣṭaka for fulfillment of desires, and the use of a particular mantra (quoted as “śapantu … ahan”) with homa-japa to neutralize enemies; additional mantra-fragments are noted for fortune and for increasing fame and intellect.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical cataloging style—listing compact, results-oriented ritual applications (phala of japa/homa) alongside named/quoted mantra units (aṣṭaka, saptāṣṭaka), functioning like a handbook of applied religious technology within a broader encyclopedic text.
The verse frames mantra-japa and homa as merit-bearing acts that generate auspicious results—prosperity, wish-fulfillment, protection from hostility, and the cultivation of renown and intellect—implying purification and the strengthening of beneficial karmic outcomes through disciplined ritual practice.