Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 49
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
अस्त्रमग्न्यादिपत्रेषु इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः दिक्पालांश् च विधिस्तस्य इति ग, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः दिक्पालादौ विधिस्तुल्य इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः विश्वरूपं सर्वस्थित्यै यजेद्राज्यजयाय च सर्वव्यूहैः समायुक्तमङ्गैर् अपि च पञ्चभिः
astramagnyādipatreṣu iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ dikpālāṃś ca vidhistasya iti ga, gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ dikpālādau vidhistulya iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ viśvarūpaṃ sarvasthityai yajedrājyajayāya ca sarvavyūhaiḥ samāyuktamaṅgair api ca pañcabhiḥ
“(Reading variants:) ‘on the leaves (patras) beginning with Agni and so on’—thus read the kha- and ṅa-marked manuscripts; ‘and also the guardians of the directions (Dikpālas)—this is its rule’—thus read the ga- and gha-marked manuscripts; ‘for the Dikpālas and the rest, the rite is the same’—thus reads the ṅa-marked manuscript. One should worship Viśvarūpa for the stability of all existence, and also for victory in kingship—He being endowed with all battle-formations (vyūhas) and also with the five limbs (pañcāṅga).
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Royal protective worship (rājya-rakṣā) and victory-rites: selecting a deity-form (Viśvarūpa) and performing state-ritual aligned with battle-formations and the pañcāṅga (five operational limbs) to stabilize governance and secure conquest.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Viśvarūpa-pūjā for rājya-jaya and sarva-sthiti (with vyūha and pañcāṅga)","lookup_keywords":["Viśvarūpa","rājya-jaya","vyūha","pañcāṅga","dikpāla"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames a kingly rite: worship Viśvarūpa to maintain overall stability and to win sovereignty, conceptually integrating battle-formations (vyūhas) and a five-limbed operational scheme (pañcāṅga). It also preserves manuscript-variant notes about Dikpāla-related procedure being identical."}
Concept: Rājadharma is upheld through yajña/pūjā that aligns political order with cosmic order (sarva-sthiti) and disciplined strategy (vyūha/pañcāṅga).
Application: Use ritual as a legitimizing and stabilizing instrument of rule; integrate governance ‘limbs’ and military organization into a coherent state-protection program.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Rāja-ritual (Statecraft, royal sacrifices, protective rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king performs worship to Viśvarūpa, envisioned as a vast composite deity embodying all battle-formations; Dikpālas stand at the eight directions as protective sentinels; banners and orderly arrays suggest vyūhas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Viśvarūpa as a grand composite cosmic deity with multiple arms and emblems, eight Dikpālas at cardinal/intercardinal directions, a crowned king offering arghya, flat warm palette, bold outlines, sacred geometry mandala behind","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Viśvarūpa enthroned with ornate arch, heavy gold foil halos, Dikpālas in small panels around, king in royal attire offering flowers, rich reds and greens, gem-like ornamentation, symmetrical composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional clarity: king at altar, priest indicating vyūha-diagram on floor, Viśvarūpa appearing above as vision, delicate lines, soft shading, readable ritual implements and directional markers","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court ritual scene with the king and attendants, a painted vyūha-plan on a carpet, celestial Viśvarūpa in the sky, Dikpālas as subtle directional figures, fine detailing, architectural pavilion, restrained gold accents"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse text includes manuscript variant notes; analysis performed on the main pāda: viśvarūpaṃ sarvasthityai yajet rājya-jayāya ca sarva-vyūhaiḥ samāyuktam aṅgaiḥ api ca pañcabhiḥ. Sandhi: yajedrājyajayāya → yajet rājya-jayāya; samāyuktamaṅgair → samāyuktam aṅgaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25 (Mantra-pradarśana context; royal protective rites); Agni Purana 26 (mudrā/ritual-technology continuation)
FAQs
It prescribes Viśvarūpa-worship aimed at universal stability and royal victory, integrating Dikpāla (direction-guardian) components and a ‘vyūha’ (battle-array) concept into a protective royal rite, noting manuscript variants about the exact sequence/placement.
It blends kingship aims (rājya-jaya), protective theology (Viśvarūpa, Dikpālas), and technical vocabulary from military science (vyūha) within a ritual framework—showing how the Agni Purana cross-links governance, warfare concepts, and liturgy.
The rite is framed as sustaining cosmic and social order (sarvasthiti) while securing legitimate sovereignty; worship of the universal form with directional guardians is treated as a dharmic means to protection, stability, and success of the realm.