Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 10
Chapter 283 — Mantras as Medicine (मन्त्ररूपौषधकथनम्)
अच्युतञ्चामृतं मन्त्रं सङ्ग्रामे चापराजितः जलतारे नारसिंहं पूर्वादौ क्षेमकामवान्
acyutañcāmṛtaṃ mantraṃ saṅgrāme cāparājitaḥ jalatāre nārasiṃhaṃ pūrvādau kṣemakāmavān
ક્ષેમ ઇચ્છનાર ‘અચ્યુત’ અને ‘અમૃત’ મંત્રનો જપ કરે; અને યુદ્ધમાં ‘અપરાજિત’ (મંત્ર)। જળ પાર કરવા ‘નારસિંહ’; તેમજ પૂર્વ આદિ દિશાઓમાં પણ ક્ષેમાર્થે જપ કરે।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Protective mantra-selection by context: general safety, battle, water-crossing, and directional protection (dik-bandhana) using specific Viṣṇu-related mantras/nāmas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yātrā–Saṅgrāma–Jala-taraṇa Rakṣā-mantra-viniyoga (Acyuta/Amṛta/Aparājita/Nārasiṃha + Dik-rakṣā)","lookup_keywords":["rakṣā-mantra","aparājita","jala-taraṇa","nārasiṃha","dik-rakṣā"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a situational index of protective invocations: Acyuta/Amṛta for safety, Aparājita for battle, Nārasiṃha for crossing water, and directional security through appropriate invocation. It is a compact manual for mantra-viniyoga in travel and warfare."}
Concept: Contextual viniyoga: mantra efficacy is applied according to deśa-kāla-kriyā (place-time-action), emphasizing pragmatic dharma of protection.
Application: Before departure: perform brief dik-rakṣā (east first), then recite the relevant mantra for the journey type—battle, water-crossing, or general safety.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya (Protective Mantras for Travel and Warfare)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred-Direction
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler-warrior performs directional protection at dawn, then a battle scene with Aparājita invocation, and a river crossing under the fierce protection of Nārasiṃha appearing above the waters.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic triptych: devotee facing east with raised hand in dik-bandhana, battlefield with banners and mantra aura, river with boat and roaring Nārasiṃha in clouds, bold reds/ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed protective aura around Acyuta and Nārasiṃha, devotee at riverbank, ornate weaponry in battle panel, rich gold borders signifying kavaca","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional sequence panels labeled 'Acyuta/Amṛta—kṣema', 'Aparājita—saṅgrāma', 'Nārasiṃha—jala-taraṇa', with directional compass diagram","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape with river ford, soldiers in formation, a saintly figure reciting, translucent celestial Nārasiṃha above water, fine calligraphy cartouches for mantras"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: acyutañcāmṛtaṃ → acyutam + ca + amṛtam; saṅgrāme cāparājitaḥ → saṅgrāme + ca + aparājitaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 283 (rakṣā-mantra and nāma-viniyoga cluster)
FAQs
It assigns specific protective mantra-invocations to specific contexts—battle (Aparājita), water-crossing (Nārasiṃha), and general safety via Vishnu-epithets like Acyuta and Amṛta—indicating applied mantra-vidyā for situational protection.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical, deployable instructions—here, a concise ‘field manual’ of mantras for travel hazards, directional rites, and warfare—showing its coverage of lived ritual technology, not only mythology.
Invoking Vishnu-forms and victory-protective mantras is presented as a dharmic means to secure kṣema (welfare) and avert obstacles, aligning personal safety with devotional remembrance and disciplined ritual recitation.