Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 43
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
यथा विष्णौ स्मृते सद्यः सङ्क्षयं यान्ति पातकाः सत्येन तेन सकलं दुष्टमस्य प्रशाम्यतु
yathā viṣṇau smṛte sadyaḥ saṅkṣayaṃ yānti pātakāḥ satyena tena sakalaṃ duṣṭamasya praśāmyatu
ເຊັ່ນທີ່ເມື່ອລະລຶກເຖິງພຣະວິດສະນຸ ບາບກໍສູນສະລາຍໃນທັນທີ; ໂດຍສັດຈະນັ້ນ ຂໍໃຫ້ຄວາມຊົ່ວທັງປວງທີ່ກໍ່ກວນຜູ້ນີ້ ຈົ່ງສະງົບລົງໂດຍສິ້ນເຊີງ।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana instruction to Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Smaraṇa-based expiation and protection: remembrance of Viṣṇu as immediate pāpa-kṣaya, then applied as satya-śānti to pacify all evil affecting a person/place.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Viṣṇu-Smṛti Pāpa-Kṣaya Satya-Śānti","lookup_keywords":["Viṣṇu smṛti","pātaka kṣaya","satya","praśamana","expiation"],"quick_summary":"Remembering Viṣṇu is asserted to destroy sins instantly; that truth is then invoked to pacify all inauspicious forces—useful in prayāścitta and rakṣā contexts."}
Alamkara Type: Hetu (causal statement) / Arthāntaranyāsa
Concept: Nāma/smaraṇa as prayāścitta (expiation) and inner purification leading to śānti.
Application: Adopt daily Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (or nāma-japa) as a simple expiatory discipline; in ritual, recite before śānti-karman or after lapses in conduct.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Stotra-prayoga (Smriti of Vishnu for expiation)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee closes eyes in Viṣṇu-smaraṇa; dark stains symbolizing sins dissolve into light, and surrounding ominous shapes calm and vanish.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated devotee in meditation, Viṣṇu’s luminous form appearing in the heart-lotus, dark pāpa-smoke dissipating, serene temple interior motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Viṣṇu in a radiant medallion above the devotee, gold rays washing away dark patches, ornate frame and rich textiles, devotional focus.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic scene: devotee in japa posture, thought-bubble/halo with Viṣṇu, sequential fading of dark forms, fine linework and gentle colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with a devotee in contemplation, subtle symbolic darkness lifting, delicate illumination around a small Viṣṇu vision, intricate carpet and border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रशाम्यतु: प्र-उपसर्ग + शम् धातु. विष्णौ स्मृते = सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 31 (rakṣā-stotra sequence; satya formulas)
FAQs
It teaches a satyakriyā-style prayer: invoking the acknowledged power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (remembrance of Viṣṇu) as a truth-formula to pacify present evil/affliction.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical utilities—short, deployable verses used for expiation (pāpa-kṣaya) and protection—showing its coverage of applied ritual and mantra-prayoga.
It asserts that sincere remembrance of Viṣṇu rapidly destroys karmic demerit, and that the “power of truth” (satya) can be invoked to calm harmful influences affecting the devotee.