Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 17
Mantras for the Parasol and Other Royal/Worship Emblems (छत्रादिमन्त्रादयः)
भर्तारं रक्ष नागेन्द्र समयः परिपाल्यतां ऐरावताधिरूढस्तु वज्रहस्तः शतक्रतुः
bhartāraṃ rakṣa nāgendra samayaḥ paripālyatāṃ airāvatādhirūḍhastu vajrahastaḥ śatakratuḥ
हे नागेन्द्र! स्वामी की रक्षा करो; संधि/प्रतिज्ञा का पालन हो। क्योंकि ऐरावत पर आरूढ़ वज्रहस्त शतक्रतु (इन्द्र) साक्षी/दण्डदाता है।
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic instruction in a stotra/pledge context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Oath/pact-protection prayer (samaya-rakṣā) invoking Indra as guarantor; used to enforce fidelity, alliance, or protective covenant in ritual-political contexts.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Indra–Nāga samaya-rakṣā (pact-keeping protection)","lookup_keywords":["samaya-raksha","nagaindra","indra vajrahasta","airavata"],"quick_summary":"Frames protection as covenant-keeping: the Nāga-king is urged to guard the lord and uphold the pact, with Indra on Airāvata as the enforcing witness."}
Alamkara Type: Udbodhana (direct address)
Weapon Type: Vajra (Indra’s thunderbolt)
Concept: Samaya-pālana (keeping one’s pact) as protective dharma; divine order supports truthful agreements.
Application: In governance and war, stabilize relations by sanctifying treaties/oaths and treating breach as adharma with consequences.
Khanda Section: Stotra / Devata-prarthana (Indra–Naga samaya-raksha)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Nāga-king is addressed to protect a lord; above or behind, Indra with vajra sits atop Airāvata as a stern witness to the pact.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic Indra on white Airāvata with raised vajra, Nāgendra multi-hooded in reverent posture, the protected lord centered, bold outlines and ritual intensity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Indra and Airāvata with heavy gold ornament, vajra highlighted in gold, Nāga-king with jeweled hoods, formal covenant scene with auspicious symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, elegant Indra iconography with precise vajra, calm but authoritative expressions, clear narrative of pact-keeping with gesture-based communication.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly treaty scene with a serpent-king rendered mythically, Indra on Airāvata in the sky margin, fine detailing of textiles and weapon."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऐरावताधिरूढस्तु→ऐरावताधिरूढः तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 268 (rakṣā-stotra and yuddha-prayoga context)
FAQs
It functions as a rakṣā-style injunction: uphold a sworn pact (samaya) and invoke Indra (Vajrahasta, Airāvata-rider) as the divine enforcer/witness for protection and compliance.
It preserves a compact mythic-ritual formula combining nāga-lore, Indra iconography (Vajra, Airāvata), and dharma of oath-keeping—showing how the Agni Purana integrates theology, ritual language, and ethical governance of promises.
Keeping samaya (a pledged agreement) is treated as dharmic conduct that sustains order and protection; invoking Indra underscores that vow-breaking invites divine retribution, while vow-keeping supports merit and safety.