Adhyaya 283

Verse 1

आनि नाम द्व्यशीत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः पञ्चविशतिरिति ञ , ट च कर्पूरजहुकातैलमिति ख कर्पूरजानुकातैलमिति ज अथ त्र्यशीत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः मन्त्ररूपौषधकथनं धन्वन्तरिर् उवाच आयुरारोग्यकर्तर ओंकारद्याश् च नाकदाः ओंकारः परमो मन्त्रस्तं जप्त्वा चामरो भवेत्

Now begins the two-hundred-and-eighty-third chapter of the Agni Purāṇa, called “Mantras as Medicine.” Dhanvantari said: “The syllable Oṃ, and the mantric principles that begin with Oṃ, bestow longevity and freedom from disease, and lead the practitioner to the heavenly state. Oṃ is the supreme mantra; by repeating it, one becomes deathless.”

Verse 2

गायत्री परमो मन्त्रस्तं जप्त्वा भुक्तिमुक्तिभाक् ॐ नमो नारायणाय मन्त्रः सर्वार्थसाधकः

The Gāyatrī is the supreme mantra; by repeating it one partakes of both worldly enjoyment and liberation. The mantra “Oṃ, salutation to Nārāyaṇa” accomplishes all aims.

Verse 3

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय सर्वदः ॐ हूं नमो विष्णवे मन्त्रोयञ्चौषधं परं

“Oṃ—homage to the Blessed Lord Vāsudeva, the giver of all. Oṃ Hūṃ—homage to Viṣṇu.” This mantra is indeed the supreme remedy, the highest medicine.

Verse 4

अनेन देवा ह्य् असुराः सश्रियो निरुजो ऽभवत् भूतानामुपकारश् च तथा धर्मो महौषधम्

By this, indeed, the gods and the asuras became endowed with prosperity and free from disease; thus beneficence toward living beings—dharma—is the great medicine.

Verse 5

धर्मः सद्धर्मकृद्धर्मी एतैर् धर्मैश् च निर्मलः श्रीदः श्रीषः श्रीनिवासः श्रीधरःश्रीनिकेतनः

He is Dharma itself; the establisher of true righteousness; the upholder of dharma. By these virtues He is stainless. He is the giver of Śrī (prosperity), the Lord of Śrī, the abode of Śrī, the bearer of Śrī, and the dwelling-place of Śrī.

Verse 6

श्रियः पतिः श्रीपरम एतैः श्रियमवाप्नुयात् कामी कामप्रदः कामः कामपालस् तथा हरिः

“(By reciting these names) one attains prosperity: ‘Lord of Śrī (Lakṣmī)’, ‘Supremely endowed with Śrī’. Likewise one should recite: ‘The Desirous One’, ‘Giver of desires’, ‘Desire itself’, ‘Protector of desires’, and also ‘Hari’.”

Verse 7

आनन्दो माधवश् चैव नाम कामाय वै हरेः रामः परशुरामश् च नृसिंहो विष्णुरेव च

For the fulfillment of desires, the Names of Hari are: Ānanda and Mādhava; also Rāma, Paraśurāma, Narasiṃha, and indeed Viṣṇu.

Verse 8

त्रिविक्रमश् च नामानि जप्तव्यानि जिगीषुभिः विद्यामभ्यस्यतां नित्यं जप्तव्यः पुरुषोत्तमः

Those who seek victory should recite the Names of Trivikrama; and those who constantly practice sacred knowledge (vidyā) should continually recite Puruṣottama.

Verse 9

दामोदरो बन्धहरः पुष्कराक्षो ऽक्षिरोगनुत् हृषीकेशो भयहरो जपेदौषधकर्मणि

During medicinal procedures, one should recite these names: Dāmodara, the remover of bondage; Puṣkarākṣa, the lotus-eyed, the destroyer of eye-diseases; Hṛṣīkeśa, the lord of the senses; and the dispeller of fear.

Verse 10

अच्युतञ्चामृतं मन्त्रं सङ्ग्रामे चापराजितः जलतारे नारसिंहं पूर्वादौ क्षेमकामवान्

One who seeks safety should invoke ‘Acyuta’ and the ‘Amṛta’ mantra; and in battle, the mantra ‘Aparājita’. For crossing water, one should invoke ‘Nārasiṃha’; and in the eastern direction and the others, one should invoke these with the desire for protection.

Verse 11

चक्रिणङ्गदिनञ्चैव शार्ङ्गिणं खड्गिनं स्मरेत् नारायणं सर्वकाले नृसिंहो ऽखिलभीतिनुत्

One should remember the Lord as the bearer of the discus and the mace, as the wielder of the Śārṅga bow, and as the bearer of the sword; one should remember Nārāyaṇa at all times—Nṛsiṃha, the dispeller of every fear.

Verse 12

गरुडध्वजश् च विषहृत् वासुदेवं सदाजपेत् धान्यादिस्थापने स्वप्ने अनन्ताच्युतमीरयेत्

One should always repeat the names “Garuḍadhvaja” and “Viṣahṛt,” and continually recite “Vāsudeva.” At the time of storing grain and the like, and also in a dream, one should utter “Ananta” and “Acyuta.”

Verse 13

नारायणञ्च दुःस्वप्ने दाहादौ जलशायिनं हयग्रीवञ्च विद्यार्थी जगत्सूतिं सुताप्तये बलभद्रं शौरकार्ये एकं नामार्थसाधकम्

In the event of evil dreams one should remember Nārāyaṇa; in dangers such as burning and the like, Jalaśāyin (Viṣṇu who reclines upon the waters). A seeker of learning should remember Hayagrīva; for obtaining a son, Jagatsūtī (the Mother of the world). For deeds requiring valor, Balabhadra. Thus, by a single divine name, the intended purpose is accomplished.