Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 2

Adhyaya 236 — श्रीस्तोत्रम् (Śrī-stotra) / Hymn to Śrī (Lakṣmī) for Royal Stability and Victory

Devanagari script

इन्द्र उवाच नमस्ये सर्वलोकानां जननीमब्धिसम्भवां श्रियमुन्निन्द्रपद्माक्षीं विष्णुवक्षःस्थलस्थितां

Transliteration

indra uvāca namasye sarvalokānāṃ jananīmabdhisambhavāṃ śriyamunnindrapadmākṣīṃ viṣṇuvakṣaḥsthalasthitāṃ

Translation

Indra dijo: Me inclino ante Śrī (Lakṣmī), madre de todos los mundos, nacida del océano; de ojos de loto que superan al loto, y que mora en el pecho de Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नमस्ये: I bow / I salute
• नमस्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + य (धातु: नमस्यति इति)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• सर्व-लोकानाम्: of all worlds
• सर्व-लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), बहुवचन; समासः—सर्वे लोकाः (कर्मधारय)

• जननीम्: mother
• जननीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• अब्दि-सम्भवाम्: born from the ocean
• अब्दि-सम्भवाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अब्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—अब्देः सम्भवा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• श्रियम्: Śrī / fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• उन्न-इन्द्र-पद्म-अक्षीम्: she whose eyes are like exalted lotus-flowers
• उन्न-इन्द्र-पद्म-अक्षीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—उन्नानि इन्द्राणि (उत्कृष्टानि) पद्मानि अक्षीणि यस्याः सा

• विष्णु-वक्षः-स्थल-स्थिताम्: dwelling on Viṣṇu’s chest
• विष्णु-वक्षः-स्थल-स्थिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त; समासः—विष्णोः वक्षःस्थलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तत्र स्थिता (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद)

Speaker

Indra

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devotional recitation to invoke Śrī/Lakṣmī for prosperity, legitimacy, and victory; suitable for daily worship and royal rites.","sutra_style":false}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Indra’s Salutation to Śrī: Abdhisambhavā, Viṣṇuvakṣaḥsthitā","lookup_keywords":["indra uvāca","śrī","abdhisambhavā","padmākṣī","viṣṇu-vakṣaḥ"],"quick_summary":"A compact praise identifying Lakṣmī as ocean-born, lotus-eyed, mother of worlds, and eternally united with Viṣṇu—recited to attract auspicious fortune."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (padmākṣī surpassing the lotus)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrī is inseparable from Viṣṇu and is the generative auspicious power sustaining worlds; devotion aligns the devotee with prosperity and order.

Application: Recite this salutation in Śrī-pūjā (with lotus/flowers, lamp, and offerings) to cultivate steadiness of fortune and dharmic prosperity.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Stotra & Puja-vidhi (Lakshmi-Narayana Stuti / Devī-stuti within ritual praise)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: River

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Indra bows to Lakṣmī: she appears ocean-born with lotus eyes, radiant, seated near Viṣṇu’s chest, surrounded by waves, lotuses, and celestial attendants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Lakṣmī emerging with lotus aura from stylized ocean, Indra with folded hands, Viṣṇu behind with Śrīvatsa mark, bold reds/greens, ornate jewelry, symmetrical divine tableau","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore with gold leaf, Lakṣmī richly adorned holding lotuses, seated beside Viṣṇu with gold-embossed halo, Indra kneeling in devotion, shimmering ocean motifs, heavy ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined lines: Indra saluting, Lakṣmī with gentle expression and lotus eyes, Viṣṇu’s chest association shown by close seating/embrace, soft palette and intricate borders","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, celestial court by a stylized sea, Lakṣmī and Viṣṇu on a jeweled throne, Indra bowing, delicate shading, detailed textiles and crowns"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: इन्द्र उवाच → इन्द्रः उवाच (विसर्ग-लोप); जननीम्+अब्दिसम्भवाम् → जननीमब्धिसम्भवाम्; श्रियम्+उन्न... → श्रियमुन्न...; विष्णु+वक्षःस्थल... → विष्णुवक्षःस्थल... (उकार-सन्धि).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 236 (Śrī-stotra sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Viṣṇu
• Ocean (Abdhi)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It functions as a stuti-mantra: a formal act of obeisance (namasya) used in Lakṣmī-pūjā contexts to invoke Śrī as ocean-born and Viṣṇu-associated auspicious power.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside governance, medicine, and warfare sections, the Agni Purana preserves liturgical material—hymns and praise-formulas—showing how theology and ritual devotion are integrated into its wide-ranging compendium.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Praising Śrī as the universal mother and Viṣṇu’s inseparable auspiciousness is taught as a merit-producing devotional act, oriented toward prosperity, protection, and inner auspiciousness (śrī).