Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 14
Viṣṇu-Pañjara (विष्णुपञ्जरम्) — The Protective Armor of Viṣṇu
पृष्ठे पुरस्तान्मम दक्षिणोत्तरे विकोणतश्चास्तु जनार्दनोहरिः तमीड्यमीशानमनन्तमच्युतं जनार्दनं प्रणिपतितो न सीदति
pṛṣṭhe purastānmama dakṣiṇottare vikoṇataścāstu janārdanohariḥ tamīḍyamīśānamanantamacyutaṃ janārdanaṃ praṇipatito na sīdati
મારા પીઠ પાછળ અને આગળ, જમણે અને ડાબે, તેમજ વિકોણ દિશાઓમાં પણ જનાર્દન હરિ રહો. સ્તુત્ય એવા પ્રભુ—જનાર્દન, ઈશાન, અનંત, અચ્યુત—ને જે પ્રણામ કરે છે, તે દુઃખમાં પડતો નથી.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating Agni Purana teachings to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional protection (dik-bandhana) by invoking Janārdana/Hari in front, behind, sides, and diagonals; used before travel, sleep, rituals, or in fear/uncertainty.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dik-rakṣā: Janārdana in all directions","lookup_keywords":["dik-rakṣā","janārdana","hari","ananta-acyuta","pranipāta"],"quick_summary":"Gives a practical protective procedure: place Hari mentally in every direction; the one who bows to the Infinite, Unfailing Lord is said not to fall into misery."}
Alamkara Type: Parisaṅkhyā/Enumeration of directions; epithets (īśāna, ananta, acyuta) as nāma-mālā
Concept: Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) expressed as pranipāta; divine omnipresence as practical protection.
Application: Before risky tasks, perform brief pranipāta and visualize protection in eight directions to stabilize attention and reduce fear-driven error.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Raksha-stotra (Protective invocation of Vishnu in all directions)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee at center with Janārdana’s presence manifested in eight directions as luminous forms, forming a protective mandala; the devotee bows and stands fearless.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, eight-direction mandala around central devotee, repeated Viṣṇu forms with conch/discus, strong symmetry, flat saturated colors, temple-floor geometric cues","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Janārdana with gold halo, smaller directional Viṣṇu forms around, devotee in añjali, heavy gold embossing emphasizing protective aura","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic dik-mandala with labeled directions (pṛṣṭha/purastāt/dakṣiṇa/uttara/vikoṇa), Viṣṇu icons placed accordingly, clean lines and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, central figure in prayer within a courtyard; eight luminous medallions around the border each showing Viṣṇu, intricate floral margins and calligraphic cartouches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुरस्तान्मम = पुरस्तात् + मम; विकोणतश्चास्तु = विकोणतः + च + अस्तु; जनार्दनोहरिः = जनार्दनः + हरिः; तमीड्यमीशानमनन्तमच्युतं = तम् + ईड्यम् + ईशानम् + अनन्तम् + अच्युतम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 269 (rakṣā-stotra continuation)
FAQs
It teaches a rakṣā-prayoga (protective application): mentally placing (nyāsa-like) Vishnu/Janārdana in front, behind, right, left, and the diagonal directions to establish all-around spiritual protection.
Alongside topics like polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical technology—directional protection stotras and kavaca-style invocations—showing its breadth as a manual of ritual and applied dharma.
The verse asserts that surrender (praṇipāta) to Vishnu as the Infinite and Unfailing Lord removes distress and prevents spiritual and worldly downfall, framing devotion as both protective and purifying.