Adhyaya 321
Pāśupata-Śānti (पाशुपतशान्तिः)
This chapter, following an earlier śānti-kalpa on Aghora and related astras, begins the teaching of Pāśupata-Śānti. The Lord sets forth a pacificatory rite (śānti) centered on the Pāśupata weapon-mantra, starting with japa and preparatory applications. A key technical point is the mantra’s ordered deployment: obstacle-destruction is performed from the “feet”/initial placement (pādatas-pūrva), suggesting a structured nyāsa-like or directional arrangement. The text then gives a compact sequence of astra-invocations ending with “phaṭ,” including solar, lunar, and Vighneśvara astra elements, followed by imperative ritual verbs—confound, conceal, uproot, terrify, revive, drive away, destroy misfortune. Its efficacy is quantified: one repetition removes obstacles; one hundred repetitions avert ominous portents and grant victory in battle. Finally, it prescribes a ghee-and-guggulu homa to accomplish even difficult aims, concluding that recitation of the Śastra-Pāśupata brings complete pacification.
Shlokas
Verse 1
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अघोरास्त्रादिशान्तिकल्पे नाम विंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः व्यालकाके इति ख अथैकविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः पाशुपतशान्तिः ईश्वर उवाच वक्ष्ये पाशुपतास्त्रेण शान्तिजापादि पूर्वतः पादतःपूर्वनाशो हि फडन्तं चापदादिनुत्
Thus, in the Agni Mahāpurāṇa, the chapter entitled “The Śānti-kalpa concerning the Aghora-weapon and others” is the three-hundred-and-twentieth (in some recensions noted as “vyāla-kāke”). Now begins the three-hundred-and-twenty-first chapter, “Pāśupata-Śānti.” The Lord said: “I shall explain the appeasement rite performed with the Pāśupata weapon-mantra—beginning with pacificatory japa and related preliminaries. Indeed, the destruction of obstacles is first effected from the ‘feet’ (the initial portion/placement); and the mantra ending with the exclamation ‘phaḍ’ is to be applied for removing calamities and the like.”
Verse 2
रास्त्राय फट् भास्करास्त्राय फट् चन्द्रास्त्राय फट् विघ्नेश्वरास्त्राय फट् ख्रों ख्रौं फट् ह्रौं ह्रों फट् भ्रामय फट् छादय फट् उन्मूलय फट् त्रासय फट् सञ्जीवय फट् विद्रावय फट् सर्वदुरितं नाशय फट् सकृदावर्तनादेव सर्वविघ्नान् विनाशयेत् शतावर्तेन चोत्पातान्रणादौ विजयो भवेत्
“To the protective Astra—phaṭ! To the Sun-Astra—phaṭ! To the Moon-Astra—phaṭ! To the Vighneśvara-Astra—phaṭ! khroṃ khrauṃ—phaṭ! hrauṃ hroṃ—phaṭ! Confound—phaṭ! Conceal—phaṭ! Uproot—phaṭ! Terrify—phaṭ! Revive—phaṭ! Drive away—phaṭ! Destroy all misfortune—phaṭ!” By a single repetition itself one destroys all obstacles; and by repeating it a hundred times, one wards off ominous calamities, and in battle and the like, victory arises.
Verse 3
घृतगुग्गुलुहोमाच्च असाध्यानपि साधयेत् पठनात्सर्वशान्तिः स्यच्छस्त्रपाशुपतस्य च
By performing a fire-offering (homa) with ghee and guggulu, one may accomplish even what is deemed impossible; and by reciting the Śastra-Pāśupata, complete pacification of afflictions and obstacles is attained.
Frequently Asked Questions
The chapter emphasizes operational sequencing and force-termination: obstacle-destruction is applied from the initial ‘feet’ placement, and the mantra is repeatedly ended with “phaṭ” to effect protective, expelling, and pacifying functions.
By framing protection, obstacle-removal, and pacification as dharma-supporting disciplines, it stabilizes the practitioner’s life and ritual environment, enabling sustained sādhanā while aligning worldly safety (bhukti) with spiritual steadiness (mukti-oriented practice).