Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 25
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
दिव्यान्तरीक्षभौमाद्या दुःस्वप्नाद्यभिचारकाः यच्चान्यद्दुरितं किञ्चित्तत्सर्वं हन्ति केशवः
divyāntarīkṣabhaumādyā duḥsvapnādyabhicārakāḥ yaccānyadduritaṃ kiñcittatsarvaṃ hanti keśavaḥ
Keśava anéantit toutes les influences nuisibles issues du domaine divin, de l’espace intermédiaire ou de la sphère terrestre—y compris les mauvais rêves et les actes de sorcellerie; en vérité, quel que soit l’autre péché ou malheur, il les détruit tous.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Apotropaic (rakṣā) recitation invoking Keśava to neutralize multi-source harms: daivika (divine), āntarikṣa (atmospheric), bhauma (earthly), including duḥsvapna and abhichāra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Keśava as Sarva-durita-nāśaka (Destroyer of all misfortune)","lookup_keywords":["Keśava","rakṣā","duḥsvapna","abhicāra","daivāntarikṣabhauma"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames Keśava as a universal protective power who destroys harms from all three realms, including nightmares and sorcery; used as a concise rakṣā-statement for recitation."}
Alamkara Type: Trika-vyapadeśa (threefold enumeration) with sarva-śabda-prayoga (totalizing ‘tatsarvam’)
Concept: Īśvara-bhakti as rakṣā: surrender to Keśava removes pāpa, duḥkha, and occult afflictions across all planes.
Application: Use as a daily protective recollection (smaraṇa) before sleep/travel; integrate into rakṣā-pāṭha for duḥsvapna/abhicāra anxiety.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi & Raksha (Protective Hymns, Apotropaic Rituals)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Keśava as a radiant protective presence dissolving dark forces labeled as divine, atmospheric, and earthly; nightmares and sorcery depicted as shadowy forms being dispelled.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Keśava (Viṣṇu) standing in serene tribhaṅga, haloed, conch and discus implied, three zones behind him—heaven, mid-air with clouds, earth with forests—dark duḥsvapna demons and abhichāra sorcerous smoke dissolving, rich mineral colors, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Keśava with gold-leaf prabhāmaṇḍala, embossed ornaments, small vignettes around showing nightmare figure, sorcery effigy, and three-loka symbols, devotional composition, bright reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, soft shading, Keśava as protector with subtle symbolic panels: ‘daivika/āntarikṣa/bhauma’ written on banners, dark influences fading, instructional clarity with traditional palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly refined Viṣṇu/Keśava figure with luminous aura, atmospheric perspective showing sky, clouds, and earth; tiny figures representing sorcerer and frightened sleeper; delicate detailing and muted jewel tones"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दिव्यान्तरीक्षभौमाद्या = दिव्य-अन्तरीक्ष-भौम-आद्याः; दुःस्वप्नाद्यभिचारकाः = दुःस्वप्न-आदि-अभिचारकाः; यच्चान्यद्दुरितं = यत्-च-अन्यत्-दुरितम्; किञ्चित्तत्सर्वं = किञ्चित्-तत्-सर्वम्
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 382 (Mantra-vidhi & Rakṣā context); Agni Purāṇa sections on Viṣṇu-nāma and rakṣā-mantras (general)
FAQs
It teaches a rakṣā (protective) principle: invoking Keśava as an apotropaic remedy to neutralize harms classified by locus (celestial/atmospheric/earthly), including duḥsvapna (bad omens in dreams) and abhicāra (hostile rites).
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical cataloging of applied religious technologies—here, protection and purification—alongside its many other domains (ritual, governance, medicine, architecture, and poetics).
Keśava is presented as the remover of durita (sin/misfortune), implying purification of adverse karmic effects and restoration of auspiciousness through devotion and remembrance.