Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Adhyaya 314 — Tvaritājñāna
Immediate/Quick Knowledge) (Colophon/Transition
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे त्वरिताज्ञानं नाम त्रयोदशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ चतुर्दशाधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः स्तम्भनादिमन्त्राः अग्निर् उवाच स्तम्भनं मोहनं वश्यं विद्वेषोच्चाटनं वदे विषव्याधिमरोगञ्च मारणं शमनं पुनः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe tvaritājñānaṃ nāma trayodaśādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha caturdaśādhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ stambhanādimantrāḥ agnir uvāca stambhanaṃ mohanaṃ vaśyaṃ vidveṣoccāṭanaṃ vade viṣavyādhimarogañca māraṇaṃ śamanaṃ punaḥ
Demikianlah dalam Agni Mahāpurāṇa berakhir bab ke-314 yang bernama ‘Tvaritājñāna’ (Pengetahuan yang segera). Kini dimulai bab ke-315: ‘Mantra-mantra yang bermula dengan Stambhana’. Agni bersabda: “Aku akan mengajarkan stambhana (penghentian), mohana (pembingungan), vaśya (penundukan), vidveṣa dan uccāṭana (permusuhan dan pengusiran), penawar racun, penyembuhan penyakit dan derita, serta māraṇa (pemusnahan) dan śamana (penenteraman), kembali menurut urutan.”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Cataloging and sequencing of prayogas: stambhana, mohana, vaśya, vidveṣa, uccāṭana, viṣa-roga remedies, māraṇa, and śamana—used for protection, countermeasures, and coercive/hostile rites depending on dhārmic framing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Stambhanādi-mantra prayogas (taxonomy of tantric operations)","lookup_keywords":["stambhana","mohana","vashya","uccatana","shamana"],"quick_summary":"This is a programmatic list announcing the chapter’s scope: immobilization, delusion, subjugation, creating enmity, expulsion, antidotes for poison and disease, destructive rites, and pacification—presented as a structured toolkit of mantra-operations."}
Concept: Mantra-śāstra as a classified set of operational aims (kriyā-bheda), ranging from śānti (pacification) to abhichāra (harmful coercion).
Application: Use the taxonomy to choose an appropriate rite: śamana/viṣa-vyādhi remedies for protection; avoid or strictly regulate coercive aims under dharma and guru-niyama.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya / Tantra-Mantra (Abhichara and protective rites)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher enumerates the eight categories of mantra-operations to a circle of sages; behind him appear symbolic vignettes: immobilized foe (stambhana), bewildered figure (mohana), pacification flame (śamana), and antidote bowl for poison/disease.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni with flaming aureole seated as ācārya, sages in semicircle, eight symbolic emblems arranged around (knot for stambhana, veil for mohana, leash for vaśya, split faces for vidveṣa, wind-swept exile for uccāṭana, serpent for viṣa, broken weapon for māraṇa, calm lotus for śamana).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Agni enthroned with gold halo, sages listening, ornate labels in Devanagari for stambhana/mohana/vaśya etc., gold embossing on flames and emblems, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic chart-like layout: Agni at top, below eight panels each illustrating one prayoga with minimal figures and clear icon symbols; fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly with Agni as luminous figure, attendants holding manuscripts titled stambhanādi-mantrāḥ, marginal mini-scenes showing each operation, intricate borders and naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् → इति (य्-आदेशः). 'अध्यायः' पूर्वे 'ऽ' = अ + अवग्रह. अग्निर् उवाच → अग्निः उवाच (विसर्ग-सन्धि). विद्वेषोच्चाटनम् = विद्वेष + उच्चाटनम्. मरोगञ्च → अमरोगम् च (ं + च → ञ्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314 (Tvaritājñāna chapter colophon); Agni Purana 315 (Stambhanādi-mantrāḥ chapter beginning; subsequent yantra/nyāsa procedures in 314.2-314.4 as operational supports)
FAQs
It introduces a mantra-vidyā section detailing operative rites/mantras such as stambhana (restraint), mohana (bewilderment), vaśya (influence), vidveṣa (discord), uccāṭana (expulsion), along with applications for poison, disease, destructive rites (māraṇa), and pacification (śamana).
By shifting from a chapter on ‘quick knowledge’ to a catalog of specialized mantra-operations—ranging from coercive/defensive rites to healing and pacification—it shows the Agni Purana’s breadth across ritual technology, applied religious practice, and pragmatic remedies.
The verse frames these practices as taught under scriptural authority, implying that such powerful rites require disciplined intent and ethical restraint; śamana (pacification) and healing uses align with protective dharmic aims, while coercive rites carry heavier karmic risk if misused.