Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
Chapter 48 — Account of the Hymn to the Twenty-Four Forms
Caturviṁśati-mūrti-stotra-kathana
बालरूपी शङ्खगदी उपेन्द्रश् चक्रपद्म्यपि जनार्दनः पद्मचक्री शङ्खधारी गदाधरः
bālarūpī śaṅkhagadī upendraś cakrapadmyapi janārdanaḥ padmacakrī śaṅkhadhārī gadādharaḥ
Il a une forme enfantine; il porte la conque et la massue; il est Upendra; il porte aussi le disque et le lotus. Il est Janārdana — porteur du lotus et du disque, porteur de la conque, brandisseur de la massue.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Dhyāna (visualization) of Viṣṇu with śaṅkha–cakra–gadā–padma for pūjā, japa, and protective remembrance.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Viṣṇu āyudha-catuṣṭaya and bāla-rūpa epithets","lookup_keywords":["bālarūpī","śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma","Upendra","Janārdana","āyudha-dhāraṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse strings together Viṣṇu’s epithets and the four emblems (conch, discus, mace, lotus), serving as a compact dhyāna-list for worship and remembrance."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (phonetic recurrence) and Nāmāvalī-śailī (catalog of epithets)
Concept: Nāma–rūpa-smaraṇa: the Lord is approached through recognizable forms and names (Upendra, Janārdana) with emblematic attributes.
Application: Use as a dhyāna-śloka before pūjā; mental fixation on the four emblems to steady attention in japa.
Khanda Section: Vishnu-sahasranama / Stotra-nama (Names and iconography of Lord Vishnu)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A childlike Viṣṇu (bāla-rūpa) shown with four arms holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus; serene face, divine ornaments, halo.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural of bāla-rūpa Viṣṇu, caturbhuja, holding śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, bold flat colors (ochre, green, red), large expressive eyes, ornate jewelry, circular prabhāmaṇḍala, minimal background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of Viṣṇu as Upendra/Janārdana, four-armed with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, rich silk garments, heavy gold foil work on crown and halo, embossed ornaments, lotus pedestal.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style painting emphasizing clean linework and soft shading: bāla Viṣṇu with four emblems, delicate facial features, subdued palette, detailed crown and armlets, simple temple interior backdrop.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: youthful Viṣṇu with four arms and emblems, fine brush detailing, jeweled attire, patterned textiles, subtle landscape or palace niche, gold highlights, balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: उपेन्द्रश् चक्रपद्म्यपि → उपेन्द्रः चक्रपद्मी अपि (visarga sandhi; yapi split as y + api).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 48 (Caturviṃśati-mūrti-stotra context); Agni Purana 49 (avatāra-lakṣaṇa continuation)
FAQs
It conveys stotra-vidyā: the disciplined recitation of Vishnu’s epithets, emphasizing iconographic identifiers (śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, padma) used in worship, meditation, and deity-visualization (dhyāna).
Alongside subjects like polity and medicine elsewhere, this chapter preserves a structured catalog of divine names and attributes—serving as a compact theological and iconographic reference for Vaiṣṇava worship and Purāṇic doctrine.
Remembering Vishnu through these names and attributes supports bhakti and smṛti (devotional recollection), traditionally held to purify the mind, stabilize dhyāna, and generate religious merit through nāma-japa and stotra-pāṭha.