Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 59
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
तृणपाणिर्जपेत्सूक्तुं रक्षोघ्नं दस्युन्भिर्वृतः ये के च उमेत्यृचं जप्त्वा दीर्घमायुराप्नुयात्
tṛṇapāṇirjapetsūktuṃ rakṣoghnaṃ dasyunbhirvṛtaḥ ye ke ca umetyṛcaṃ japtvā dīrghamāyurāpnuyāt
Mit einem Grashalm in der Hand soll man, selbst von Räubern umringt, den dämonentötenden Hymnus rezitieren; und nachdem man den Ṛgveda-Vers, der mit „ye ke ca…“ beginnt, gesprochen hat, erlangt man langes Leben.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Apad-raksha: personal protection and longevity-prayoga by reciting specific Rakṣoghna/Ṛg-mantras even under threat (robbers, danger).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tṛṇapāṇi Rakṣoghna-japa for āyuḥ (longevity)","lookup_keywords":["tṛṇapāṇi","rakṣoghna sūkta","ye ke ca ṛc","dasyu","dīrghāyuḥ"],"quick_summary":"Hold a blade of grass as a ritual token and recite the rakṣas-destroying hymn; then recite the Ṛg-verse beginning “ye ke ca…”. This prayoga is stated to confer long life even in hostile circumstances."}
Concept: Mantra as protective power (rakṣā) that remains effective irrespective of external danger; inner steadiness (dhairya) through japa.
Application: Use japa as a stabilizing, fear-reducing discipline in crisis; maintain ritual minimalism (a single grass-blade as saṅkalpa-marker) when resources are absent.
Khanda Section: Mantra-prayoga & Raksha-vidhi (Protective Vedic Recitation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler stands firm holding a single blade of grass, surrounded by armed bandits, calmly reciting Vedic hymns; subtle protective aura implied.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and ochres, a calm rishi-like traveler holding darbha grass, bandits encircling, protective halo motifs, minimal landscape, sacred text recitation posture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure with darbha grass and palm-leaf manuscript, gold-leaf aura, bandits at the margins, ornate borders, emphasis on divine protection and longevity symbolism.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, subdued palette, instructional depiction of tṛṇapāṇi posture and japa mudra, bandits shown as secondary figures, clear narrative clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed caravan-road setting, bandits with weapons, protagonist holding a grass blade and chanting, delicate foliage and textiles, restrained supernatural glow."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तृणपाणिः+जपेत्→तृणपाणिर्जपेत्; जपेत्+सूक्तम्→जपेत्सूक्तम्; दस्युभिः+वृतः→दस्युन्भिर्वृतः (अनुस्वार/नकारादेश); उमा+इति+ऋचम्→उमेत्यृचम्; दीर्घम्+आयुः+आप्नुयात्→दीर्घमायुराप्नुयात्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (Mantra-prayoga/Raksha-vidhi cluster); Agni Purana sections on raksha-mantras and apad-dharma (nearby chapters)
FAQs
It teaches a practical rakṣā-prayoga: perform japa of a rakṣoghna (rakṣas-destroying) sūkta and a specific Ṛg-vedic ṛc (identified by its opening words) as an emergency protective measure, even in danger such as being surrounded by hostile men.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied ritual technology—field-use mantra procedures for safety, threat-removal, and longevity—showing its wide coverage of practical dharma, rites, and protective disciplines.
Reciting protective Vedic speech (mantra) is presented as both a shield against hostile forces and a merit-bearing act that supports āyus (vital longevity), linking immediate protection with long-term auspicious karmic outcome.