Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 16
Adhyaya 236 — श्रीस्तोत्रम् (Śrī-stotra) / Hymn to Śrī (Lakṣmī) for Royal Stability and Victory
सद्यो वैगुण्यमायान्ति शीलाद्याः सकला गुणाः पराङ्मुखी जगद्धात्री यस्य त्वं विष्णुवल्लभे
sadyo vaiguṇyamāyānti śīlādyāḥ sakalā guṇāḥ parāṅmukhī jagaddhātrī yasya tvaṃ viṣṇuvallabhe
हे विष्णुप्रिये जगद्धात्री, जिससे आप विमुख हो जाती हैं, उसके शील आदि समस्त गुण तुरंत ही दोषयुक्त होकर क्षीण हो जाते हैं।
Lord Agni (narrating a stotra context within the Agni Purana’s devotional instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Serves as a cautionary devotional teaching: maintain alignment with Śrī (Lakṣmī) through dharma and bhakti, since her withdrawal signifies decline of virtues and auspiciousness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śrī-viyoga: decline of guṇa when Lakṣmī turns away","lookup_keywords":["Viṣṇuvallabhā","Jagaddhātrī","śrī-viyoga","guṇa-kṣaya","parāṅmukhī"],"quick_summary":"When Lakṣmī (world-sustainer, beloved of Viṣṇu) turns away from a person, virtues like good conduct quickly deteriorate—an ethical-theological warning."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (contrast)
Concept: Auspiciousness (śrī) is not merely wealth but the sustaining principle behind virtues; separation from it leads to ethical decay.
Application: Sustain śīla through daily worship, generosity, and restraint; treat prosperity as dharma-supported, not self-sufficient.
Khanda Section: Stotra / Devi-Vishnu-bhakti (Praise of Lakshmi as Vishnu’s beloved; devotional-theological passage)
Primary Rasa: karuṇa
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Lakṣmī, beloved of Viṣṇu, turns her face away from a person; as she withdraws, the person’s aura dims and symbols of virtue and prosperity fade.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Lakṣmī beside Viṣṇu, shown in three-quarter profile turning away from a kneeling figure; fading lotus and dimming lamps symbolize declining guṇa; strong outlines, traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Lakṣmī with gold halo, slightly averted; the devotee below appears shadowed; prosperity symbols (coins, grains) shown receding; ornate gold work contrasts with the dimmed lower area.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: narrative split-panel—left: Lakṣmī facing the devotee with bright colors; right: Lakṣmī turned away, colors muted; clear instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: allegorical court scene; goddess in a balcony niche turns away; the subject’s attendants and fortune symbols depart; intricate architecture and subdued tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Tōḍī","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vaiguṇyam+āyānti → vaiguṇyamāyānti; śīla+ādyāḥ → śīlādyāḥ; jagat+dhātrī → jagaddhātrī (t + dh → ddh).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 236.14 (opposite claim: glance bestows guṇa); Agni Purana 236.17 (prayer not to be abandoned)
FAQs
It conveys devotional-theological instruction: virtues (guṇas) are understood to flourish through Śrī/Lakṣmī’s grace, so worship and reverence toward Lakṣmī-Viṣṇu are implied as the practical means to sustain auspicious qualities.
Alongside its many technical subjects, the Agni Purana also preserves stotras and bhakti theology; this verse functions as a concise doctrinal statement linking prosperity/Śrī with ethical excellence, showing the text’s integration of devotion, ethics, and cosmological personifications.
The verse teaches that losing Śrī (Lakṣmī’s favor) results in immediate erosion of character and merit; spiritually, it urges sustained devotion and righteous conduct to remain aligned with auspiciousness and dharmic stability.