Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Chapter 48 — Account of the Hymn to the Twenty-Four Forms
Caturviṁśati-mūrti-stotra-kathana
शङ्खी पद्मी च चक्री च हरिः कौमोदकीधरः कृष्णः शङ्खी गदी पद्मी चक्री मे भुक्तिमुक्तिदः
śaṅkhī padmī ca cakrī ca hariḥ kaumodakīdharaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ śaṅkhī gadī padmī cakrī me bhuktimuktidaḥ
Puisse Hari—Kṛṣṇa—qui porte la conque, le lotus et le disque, et tient la massue Kaumodakī—ce Seigneur porteur de conque, de massue, de lotus et de disque—m’accorder à la fois bhukti (jouissance mondaine) et mukti (délivrance).
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Protective prayer (rakṣā) invoking Hari/Kṛṣṇa with four emblems and Kaumodakī to grant bhukti and mukti; suitable for daily japa and pūjā-saṅkalpa.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Hari-Kṛṣṇa āyudha-dhyāna for bhukti–mukti","lookup_keywords":["śaṅkhī","cakrī","padmī","Kaumodakī","bhukti-mukti"],"quick_summary":"A compact protective invocation identifying Hari by the four emblems and the mace Kaumodakī, explicitly praying for both worldly welfare and liberation."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa and punarukti-prāya (intentional repetition for mantraic force)
Concept: Bhukti–mukti-samanvaya: devotion can legitimately seek both worldly support and final release, with the Lord as giver of both.
Application: Recite as a daily rakṣā-mantra before travel, study, or sleep; pair with dhyāna on the four emblems to stabilize mind and intention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vishnu-stotra (Protective Mantras and Iconography)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Devotee praying to Hari/Kṛṣṇa depicted with conch, lotus, discus, and the mace Kaumodakī; the deity radiates protection and grace, symbolizing bhukti and mukti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Hari/Kṛṣṇa caturbhuja with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā(Kaumodakī)-padma, devotee with folded hands, bold outlines, warm earthy palette, temple lamp ambience, protective aura around deity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central seated Hari/Kṛṣṇa on lotus throne, four emblems clearly shown, heavy gold foil halo and ornaments, small devotee figure at bottom, inscriptions of ‘bhukti-mukti’ motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined devotional scene with soft gradients, Hari/Kṛṣṇa holding Kaumodakī prominently, conch and discus gleaming, calm interior shrine setting, delicate floral borders.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly devotee before a radiant four-armed Hari/Kṛṣṇa, intricate textile patterns, fine jewelry detail, subtle architectural niche, balanced composition emphasizing blessing gesture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भुक्तिमुक्तिदः = भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दः (compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 48 (Vishnu-stotra and iconography sequence); Agni Purana 48.14 (nāma-japa and stotra-phala)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-style invocatory formula focusing on Viṣṇu’s four emblems (śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, padma) to be recited for protection and for attaining both prosperity (bhukti) and liberation (mukti).
Alongside subjects like polity and medicine, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical liturgical material—iconographic identifiers and mantra-style praises—showing how doctrine, worship procedure, and soteriology are integrated into daily religious practice.
By centering the mind on Hari as the bestower of both aims, the verse frames dharma-oriented prosperity and final release as flowing from devotion and remembrance of the Lord’s divine powers symbolized by his weapons.