Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5

Chapter 91 — विविधमन्त्रादिकथनम्

Teaching of Various Mantras and Related Matters

Devanagari script

अतीतानागतज्ञानमन्त्रधीभुक्तिमुक्तिदाः गृहीत्वा प्रश्नसूक्ष्मार्णे हृते द्वाभ्यां शुभाशुभं

Transliteration

atītānāgatajñānamantradhībhuktimuktidāḥ gṛhītvā praśnasūkṣmārṇe hṛte dvābhyāṃ śubhāśubhaṃ

Translation

Ayant recueilli (ces enseignements) dans l’océan subtil de la divination par interrogation, on saisit au moyen de deux (procédés) ce qui est faste et ce qui est néfaste—enseignements qui confèrent la connaissance du passé et de l’avenir, l’intelligence portée par les mantras, la jouissance mondaine et la délivrance.

Word by Word

• अतीत-अनागत-ज्ञान-मन्त्र-धी-भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दाः: givers of knowledge of past and future, of mantra-intellect, and of enjoyment and liberation
• अतीत-अनागत-ज्ञान-मन्त्र-धी-भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतीत (प्रातिपदिक) + अनागत (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अतीतानागतस्य ज्ञानं, मन्त्रधी, भुक्तिमुक्त्योः दाः इत्यर्थसमाहारः)

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having taken’

• प्रश्न-सूक्ष्म-अर्णे: in the subtle ocean of questions
• प्रश्न-सूक्ष्म-अर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक) + सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सूक्ष्मं अर्णः/समुद्रः प्रश्नानाम्)

• हृते: when taken/removed
• हृते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हृ धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचन; ‘when taken/removed’ (contextual)

• द्वाभ्याम्: by two (means)
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विवचन-प्रयोगः; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; (masc/neut) ‘by/with two’

• शुभ-अशुभम्: the auspicious and the inauspicious
• शुभ-अशुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वन्द्वसमासः (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘the auspicious and the inauspicious’ as a pair

Speaker

Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Praśna (interrogative divination) to judge śubha/aśubha outcomes for decisions (travel, trade, marriage, health), using mantra-supported intuition and rule-based interpretation.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Praśna-samudra: Twofold grasp of Śubha–Aśubha and Past–Future Knowledge","lookup_keywords":["praśna","śubha-aśubha","atīta-anāgata-jñāna","mantra-dhī","bhukti-mukti"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames praśna-vidyā as a subtle ‘ocean’ where two operative methods yield auspicious/inauspicious results, promising predictive knowledge, sharpened mantra-intellect, and both worldly and liberative fruits."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (metaphor: praśna as an ocean)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-empowered cognition can be directed through structured praśna-methods to discern karmic tendencies (śubha/aśubha) while aiming at both bhukti and mukti.

Application: Use divination as disciplined inquiry (not mere superstition): combine rule, mantra, and ethical intent; treat outcomes as guidance for dharmic choice.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya & Praśna (Divination/Omens) — Encyclopedic Vidyā Catalogue

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: Adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: Śānta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned ācārya seated with palm-leaf/birch manuscripts, pointing to a diagram of praśna-steps while a seeker asks a question; the ‘ocean of praśna’ suggested by stylized waves behind the manuscript.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, an ācārya with manuscript and stylus, stylized wave-motif halo behind the text signifying praśna-samudra, calm sacred interior, traditional ornaments, minimal shading.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central guru figure with manuscript, gold-leaf embellishment on manuscript borders and halo, symbolic waves in background, devotee in añjali, rich reds and greens, ornate frame-like composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, soft palette, instructional scene of divination: guru indicating two columns labeled śubha/aśubha, subtle wave motif, delicate facial expressions, clean architectural interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar-consultation scene, detailed textiles, a small diagram sheet with two methods, marginal wave ornamentation, precise brushwork, subdued palette with fine gold accents."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: अतीतानागतज्ञानमन्त्रधीभुक्तिमुक्तिदाः → अतीत-अनागत-ज्ञान-मन्त्र-धी-भुक्ति-मुक्ति-दाः (समास-समाहार). प्रश्नसूक्ष्मार्णे → प्रश्न-सूक्ष्म-अर्णे. शुभाशुभं → शुभ-अशुभम्.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mantra-vidyā and praśna/nimitta sections in the same khanda (ch. 91 context); Agni Purana: later yantra-lekhana and protective prayoga passages following this verse

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Mantra
• Mukti
• Praśna (divination)

FAQs

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

It points to Praśna-sūkṣma (a technical divination-by-question method) combined with mantra-based insight to judge outcomes as śubha or aśubha.

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

It compresses multiple aims—prediction (past/future knowledge), mantra-siddhi, practical success (bhukti), and liberation (mukti)—showing how the Agni Purana integrates occult technique, worldly utility, and mokṣa-oriented teaching in one continuum.

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

By aligning decisions with śubha (auspicious) indications and avoiding aśubha (inauspicious) ones through disciplined mantra-guided discernment, the practitioner reduces harmful karma and supports progress toward mukti.