Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 8
Sāma-vidhāna
Procedure of the Sāman Hymns
सर्पसाम प्रयुञ्जीनो नाप्नुयात् सर्पजम्भयं माद्य त्वा वाद्यतेत्येतद्धुत्वा विप्रः सहस्रशः प्राजापत्या तथा त्वाष्ट्री कौमारी वह्निदेवता मारुद्गणा च गान्धारी शान्तैर् नैरृतकी तथा
sarpasāma prayuñjīno nāpnuyāt sarpajambhayaṃ mādya tvā vādyatetyetaddhutvā vipraḥ sahasraśaḥ prājāpatyā tathā tvāṣṭrī kaumārī vahnidevatā mārudgaṇā ca gāndhārī śāntair nairṛtakī tathā
One who employs the Sarpasāman does not fall into the affliction caused by serpents. Having offered into the fire the formula “mādya tvā vādyate” a thousand times, the brahmin priest should likewise perform pacificatory oblations with the (mantras/śāntis) called Prājāpatyā, Tvāṣṭrī, Kaumārī (with Agni as the presiding deity), Mārudgaṇā, Gāndhārī, and also Nairṛtakī.
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Serpent-bite/serpent-affliction prevention using Sarpasāman and repeated homa of a specific formula; performing additional named śānti-oblation sets.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sarpasāman Prayoga and Thousandfold Homa for Sarpa-bhaya; Śānti Set (Prājāpatyā etc.)","lookup_keywords":["Sarpasāman","sarpa-jambha","mādya tvā vādyate","sahasra-homa","Prājāpatyā Tvāṣṭrī Kaumārī"],"quick_summary":"Employing the Sarpasāman averts serpent-caused affliction; a thousand oblations with the stated formula and additional śānti-mantras (Prājāpatyā, Tvāṣṭrī, Kaumārī, Mārudgaṇā, Gāndhārī, Nairṛtakī) form a structured protective homa regimen."}
Concept: Mantra efficacy amplified by repetition count (sahasra) and homa; devatā-specific śāntis as a taxonomy of remedial rites.
Application: Use count-based offerings and appropriate śānti categories to address specific feared harms (here, serpents and inauspicious forces like Nairṛta).
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi & Shanti-kalpa (Protective rites, Sama-mantras, and pacificatory oblations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs a thousandfold homa while chanting Sarpasāman; serpents are shown pacified/retreating; named śānti-deities symbolically surround the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: blazing yajña fire, priest in profile chanting, stylized serpents coiled at a distance subdued, faint deity emblems for Prajāpati, Tvaṣṭṛ, Kumāra with Agni, Maruts, Gandhārī, Nairṛta in the background, protective aura.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted homa scene, serpents rendered as ornamental motifs being repelled, small gilded icons for the śānti-deities around the border, rich temple palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical depiction of homa procedure—ladle, ghee, mantra recitation posture—serpent motif at the edge indicating the target affliction, clean instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed fire altar with offerings, priest and assistants counting oblations, serpents near a garden wall withdrawing, atmospheric smoke and fine textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nāpnuyāt → na āpnuyāt; vādyatetyetad → vādyate iti etat; etaddhutvā → etat hutvā; śāntair → śāntaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 260 (Sāman-mantra śānti, rakṣā-homa lists)
FAQs
It teaches a protective Sāman-prayoga (Sarpasāman) against serpent-affliction and prescribes a homa with a specific oblation-formula repeated one thousand times, followed by a sequence of named śānti-mantras (Prājāpatyā, Tvāṣṭrī, Kaumārī, etc.).
It preserves a compact ritual-technology: specialized Vedic chant application (Sāman), quantified repetition (sahasra-homa), and a catalog of pacificatory mantra-sets linked to particular deities—showing the Purana’s manual-like coverage of practical rites alongside theology.
The verse frames mantra and homa as purificatory, harm-averting acts: correct recitation and oblation are presented as dharmic means to neutralize inauspicious forces (snake-harm and calamity) through deity-aligned śānti.