Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 12
Ayuta–Lakṣa–Koṭi Fire-offerings (अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमाः) — Graha-yajña Vidhi
ब्रह्मणा सहितः शेषो दिक्पालाः पान्तु वः सदा कीर्तिर्लक्ष्मीर्धृतिर्मेधा पुष्टिः श्रद्धा क्रिया मतिः
brahmaṇā sahitaḥ śeṣo dikpālāḥ pāntu vaḥ sadā kīrtirlakṣmīrdhṛtirmedhā puṣṭiḥ śraddhā kriyā matiḥ
Que Śeṣa, avec Brahmā et les Gardiens des Directions, vous protège toujours; et que la Gloire, la Prospérité (Lakṣmī), la Fermeté, l’Intelligence, la Nourriture, la Foi, l’Action juste et le Bon discernement demeurent aussi en vous.
Lord Agni (narrating in the Agni Purana’s primary discourse tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Protective mangala-invocation at the start/end of worship, recitation, travel, or any auspicious rite to invoke dikpāla-guardianship and inner virtues.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Dikpāla-Śeṣa-Brahmā Rakṣā Maṅgala","lookup_keywords":["Śeṣa","dikpāla","rakṣā","maṅgala","kīrti-lakṣmī"],"quick_summary":"A benedictory protection formula invoking Śeṣa with Brahmā and the guardians of directions, followed by an invocation of auspicious inner qualities (kīrti, lakṣmī, dhṛti, medhā, puṣṭi, śraddhā, kriyā, mati)."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (soft alliteration) and Saṅgraha (cataloguing of auspicious qualities)
Concept: External protection (dikpālas) is paired with internal cultivation of virtues (medhā, dhṛti, śraddhā, mati).
Application: Use as a daily sankalpa-style prayer to align conduct (kriyā) and discernment (mati) with prosperity (lakṣmī) and nourishment (puṣṭi).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Protective invocation / Mangala)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual scene where the worshipper invokes Śeṣa with Brahmā and the eight dikpālas around a mandala; above/around float personified virtues like Lakṣmī, Medhā, Puṣṭi, Śraddhā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, central Ananta-Śeṣa with multi-hoods, Brahmā four-faced on lotus, eight dikpālas in the eight directions with vāhanas, warm earthy reds and ochres, bold outlines, ritual mandala floor, serene blessing mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf halos for Brahmā and dikpālas, jeweled ornaments, Śeṣa as ornate serpent canopy, personified Lakṣmī and Medhā as small attendant goddesses, rich maroon background, embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, diagrammatic eight-direction layout with labeled dikpālas, central Śeṣa-Brahmā vignette, subtle gold highlights, instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual pavilion with a mandala on the floor, stylized celestial beings in the margins representing virtues, delicate brushwork, pastel palette, symmetrical directional guardians."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कीर्तिर्लक्ष्मीर्धृतिर्मेधा → कीर्तिः लक्ष्मीः धृतिः मेधा; शेषो → शेषः; दिक्पालाः → दिक्-पालाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on rakṣā, nyāsa, and dikpāla-pūjana (within the same khanda); Agni Purana stotra/mantra collections invoking auspicious qualities (śrī-sūkta style themes)
FAQs
It teaches a rakṣā–maṅgala application: invoking Śeṣa, Brahmā, and the Dikpālas for protection, followed by a benediction listing desired auspicious qualities (kīrti, lakṣmī, dhṛti, medhā, etc.) to be ‘established’ in the practitioner.
Alongside technical chapters, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical components—protective invocations and auspicious benedictions—showing how knowledge is framed for use in rites, recitation, and daily religious practice.
Reciting such a protective benediction is traditionally understood to remove obstacles, secure divine guardianship from all directions, and cultivate inner virtues (faith, right action, discernment) that support dharma and auspicious outcomes.