Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 48 — Account of the Hymn to the Twenty-Four Forms
Caturviṁśati-mūrti-stotra-kathana
भोक्षदः श्रीगदी पद्मी शङ्खी विष्णुश् च चक्रधृक् शङ्खचक्राब्जगदिनं मधुसूदनमानमे
bhokṣadaḥ śrīgadī padmī śaṅkhī viṣṇuś ca cakradhṛk śaṅkhacakrābjagadinaṃ madhusūdanamāname
Je m’incline devant Madhusūdana—Viṣṇu, dispensateur de jouissance et de subsistance—qui porte la massue de bon augure, le lotus, la conque et le disque; dont les emblèmes sont la conque, le disque, le lotus et la massue.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Employ as protective and prosperity-oriented nāma-stuti in daily japa; the repeated emblem-set functions as a dhyāna support and mnemonic for Viṣṇu’s guardianship.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Madhusūdana—Bhogada/Śrīgadī with śaṅkha-cakra-abja-gadā","lookup_keywords":["Madhusūdana","Viṣṇu","bhogada","śrīgadī","śaṅkha-cakra","padma"],"quick_summary":"Salutes Madhusūdana as the giver of enjoyment/sustenance and describes him through the canonical four emblems, reinforcing identity through repeated insignia."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (soft repetition of emblem-terms)
Concept: Īśvara as sustainer (bhogada) approached through remembrance of his auspicious signs; devotion framed as reliance on divine maintenance.
Application: Recite before meals/undertakings as a saṅkalpa of dependence on Viṣṇu’s sustaining power, pairing each epithet with a brief visualization.
Khanda Section: Vishnu-sahasranama / Nama-stotra (Devotional Hymnody and Mantra-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Madhusūdana/Viṣṇu standing or enthroned, four arms displaying conch, discus, lotus, and mace; a devotee offers salutations emphasizing the ‘giver of enjoyment/sustenance’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu as Madhusūdana with prominent śaṅkha and cakra, lotus and mace, serene face, devotee offering naivedya, temple lamp highlights","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented Viṣṇu with gold foil halo, four emblems clearly shown, offering tray in foreground symbolizing bhoga, deep maroon and emerald palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, calm instructional depiction of the four emblems with neat detailing, subtle background, devotee in añjali, emphasis on auspicious ‘śrī’ quality","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined rendering of Viṣṇu with four emblems, attendant presenting food-offering, delicate shading, patterned carpet, floral border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णुश् च → viṣṇuḥ + ca (visarga sandhi). शङ्खचक्राब्जगदिनं → śaṅkha-cakra-abja-gadinam. 'āname' taken as ā-√nam present 1sg Ātmanepada (poetic/archaic usage).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: adjacent nāma-stotra verses for other forms (Trivikrama, Vāmana, Śrīdhara, Hṛṣīkeśa)
FAQs
It imparts nāma-stuti/mantra-style remembrance of Viṣṇu through iconographic epithets (conch, discus, lotus, mace), used for devotional recitation and focused worship (smaraṇa and japa).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves practical liturgical material—name-hymns and deity iconography—showing its coverage of both doctrine and worship practice.
Bowing to and remembering Madhusūdana through his sacred emblems is presented as purifying devotion, stabilizing the mind in dharma, and accruing merit through reverent praise.