Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 20
Mantras for the Parasol and Other Royal/Worship Emblems (छत्रादिमन्त्रादयः)
स्थैर्यं गिरेर्जयं रुद्राद्यशो देवात् पुरन्दरात् युद्धे रक्षन्तु नागास्त्वां दिशश् च सह दैवतैः
sthairyaṃ girerjayaṃ rudrādyaśo devāt purandarāt yuddhe rakṣantu nāgāstvāṃ diśaś ca saha daivataiḥ
पर्वत तुम्हें स्थैर्य दे; रुद्र तुम्हें विजय दें; देव तुम्हें यश दें; पुरन्दर (इन्द्र) तुम्हें युद्ध-बल दें। संग्राम में नाग तुम्हारी रक्षा करें और दिशाएँ अपने अधिदेवताओं सहित तुम्हें सुरक्षित रखें।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha within the Agni Purāṇa framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Protective recitation before battle, travel, or royal/military undertakings invoking dikpālas, devas, and nāgas for steadiness, victory, fame, and strength.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Dikpāla-Deva-Nāga Rakṣā for Sthairya, Jaya, Yaśas, and Bala","lookup_keywords":["rakṣā-mantra","dikpāla","nāga-rakṣā","jaya","yaśas"],"quick_summary":"A protective invocation assigning specific boons—steadfastness, victory, renown, and martial power—to cosmic guardians; concludes with all directions and their deities as a protective perimeter."}
Concept: Rakṣā through alignment with cosmic order—directions, deities, and nāga powers—so personal/royal effort is supported by adhidaivika guardianship.
Application: Use as a protective boundary-prayer (digbandha) before risky action; cultivate sthairya (steadiness) as the inner counterpart of external protection.
Khanda Section: Raksha-Mantra / Protective Benedictions (Dikpala, Deva, Naga Raksha)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warrior/king stands centered within a protective circle; the ten directions are personified with their deities, while nāgas rise as guardians; Rudra and Indra bestow victory and power, and a mountain motif symbolizes steadfastness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, central kṣatriya figure in rakṣā-maṇḍala, dikpālas in the ten directions with vivid flat colors, nāgas coiling at the borders, Rudra and Indra blessing, stylized mountain behind, traditional ornamentation, sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed central king/warrior, surrounding dikpālas in concentric arrangement, embossed gold detailing on crowns and weapons, nāga guardians at the frame, mountain icon at top, rich reds and greens, devotional-protective mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional diagram-like ring of directions labeled by deities, central figure receiving boons (sthairya/jaya/yaśas/bala), nāgas as corner guardians, balanced composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, battlefield camp scene with a court priest reciting rakṣā, the king armored at center, allegorical dikpālas in the margins, nāgas rendered as mythic serpents along the border, fine detailing, subdued palette with gold accents"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गिरेर्जयम् = गिरेः + जयम्; रुद्राद्यशो = रुद्रात् + यशः; नागास्त्वाम् = नागाः + त्वाम्; दिशश् च = दिशः + च (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 268 (Rakṣā-mantra section)
FAQs
It teaches a rakṣā-prayoga (protective invocation) for warfare: calling specific divine powers—Rudra, Indra (Purandara), Nāgas, and the Directions with their presiding deities—to confer steadiness, victory, fame, and protection in battle.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied ritual technology—practical protective formulas for real-world contexts like warfare—integrating deity-invocation, dikpāla concepts, and auspicious boons (stability, victory, renown) into a compact operational mantra.
By aligning oneself with dhārmic divine guardians (devas, dikpālas, and nāgas), the verse frames protection and success as arising from righteous divine order, encouraging faith, discipline, and restraint even amid conflict.