Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
अखण्डितात्मभावैस्त्वमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः दंष्ट्रोद्धृतभूमिभर्त्रे इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः सृजते गामिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः नरसिंह करालाख्य दन्तप्रान्तानलोज्ज्वल भञ्ज भञ्ज निनादेन दुष्टान्यस्यार्तिनाशन
akhaṇḍitātmabhāvaistvamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ daṃṣṭroddhṛtabhūmibhartre iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ sṛjate gāmiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ narasiṃha karālākhya dantaprāntānalojjvala bhañja bhañja ninādena duṣṭānyasyārtināśana
“(En algunos manuscritos se anotan lecturas variantes: ‘Tú eres de naturaleza esencial inquebrantable’; ‘al sustentador de la Tierra alzada por el colmillo’; ‘(Él) crea la Tierra’.) ¡Oh Narasiṃha, del Nombre Terrible, con las puntas de Tus dientes resplandecientes como fuego: aplasta, aplasta (el mal)! Con Tu rugido atronador destruye a los malvados; Tú eres quien disipa la aflicción de este devoto.”
Lord Agni (teaching a protective Narasiṃha-mantra within the Agni Purana’s ritual material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Narasimha protective recitation (kavaca/raksha) to repel hostile forces, nightmares, fear, and malefic influences; also used before journeys and during crises.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Narasimha-karala raksha-mantra with manuscript variants","lookup_keywords":["Narasimha","kavaca","karala","nada (roar)","variant reading"],"quick_summary":"A fierce Narasimha invocation emphasizing flaming teeth and thunderous roar to crush the wicked and remove the devotee’s distress; notes textual variants preserved in manuscripts."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa (bhaja/bhanja repetition) and Ukti-vaicitrya (forceful imperatives)
Concept: Abhaya through īśvara-rakṣā: fear is countered by invoking the ugra yet compassionate protector.
Application: Recite during anxiety/fear; pair with ethical restraint and truthfulness to align with protective dharma.
Khanda Section: Stotra-Mantra & Protective Hymns (Narasimha-kavaca / Raksha-mantra tradition within Agni Purana’s ritual-protective material)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Narasimha in terrifying protective form, mouth open in a thunderous roar, teeth tips glowing like fire, wicked forces scattering while a devotee seeks refuge.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Narasimha with leonine face, wide eyes, flaming teeth highlights, concentric sound-waves from roar, fleeing dark spirits, rich reds and ochres, temple mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, seated/standing Narasimha with gold halo and heavy gold embossing, flames at teeth rendered in stylized gold-red, devotee at feet, protective aura ringed with gold","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, detailed facial expression and controlled ferocity, visual ‘sound’ lines for nāda, manuscript-variant notes as marginal script panels, soft background wash","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dramatic profile of roaring Narasimha, fine fur texture, fire-lit teeth, terrified antagonists, calligraphic cartouche noting variant readings"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective-fierce","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दन्तप्रान्तानलोज्ज्वल = दन्त + प्रान्त + अनल + उज्ज्वल; दुष्टान्यस्य = दुष्टानि + अस्य. The initial apparatus notes (akhaṇḍitātmabhāvaiḥ tvam..., etc.) are manuscript variants and not analyzed as part of the main pāda here.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Narasimha-kavaca/raksha materials in protective hymn sections; Vishnu-stotra collections nearby
FAQs
It functions as a rakṣā-mantra (protective invocation) to Narasiṃha, using imperative ‘bhañja bhañja’ and the imagery of the deity’s roar to ritually repel and ‘shatter’ hostile/evil forces.
Alongside cosmology and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical technology—stotras and protection-mantras—showing its coverage of applied ritual tools (rakṣā, śānti, kavaca-style invocations) used in daily religious practice.
Recitation is framed as invoking Narasiṃha’s purifying, fear-dispelling power: it destroys wicked influences and alleviates the devotee’s ‘ārti’ (affliction), reinforcing refuge (śaraṇāgati) in the deity as a means of protection and inner steadiness.