Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 13
Aghīrāstra-ādi-Śānti-kalpaḥ
Rite for Pacification of Aghora-Astra and Other Weapons
हस्तिन्यां मददृष्टौ च अयुताच्छान्तिरिष्यते अकाले गर्भपाते तु जातं यत्र विनश्यति
hastinyāṃ madadṛṣṭau ca ayutācchāntiriṣyate akāle garbhapāte tu jātaṃ yatra vinaśyati
ຖ້າເຫັນຊ້າງເພດຍິງຢູ່ໃນພາວະ musth (ສາຍຕາມືນເມົາ/ຄືຄົນຫຼົງ) ກໍກຳນົດໃຫ້ປະກອບພິທີສັນຕິອັນໃຫຍ່ມີຄ່າເທົ່າສິບພັນ. ແລະໃນກໍລະນີແທງລູກນອກລະດູ ສິ່ງທີ່ເກີດຢູ່ນັ້ນຖືກກ່າວວ່າຈະພິນາດ.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Reading specific omens (nimitta) and prescribing proportionate śānti (pacificatory) rites to avert loss, especially before/around major events and reproductive crises.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śānti for Elephant-in-musth Omen and Untimely Miscarriage","lookup_keywords":["hastinī-mada-dṛṣṭi","nimitta","ayuta-śānti","akāla-garbha-pāta","ariṣṭa-śānti"],"quick_summary":"Seeing a female elephant in musth is treated as a major ominous sign requiring an ‘ayuta’ (ten-thousand-grade) pacificatory rite. Untimely miscarriage is marked as a fatal ariṣṭa (perishing of the issue), prompting immediate remedial śānti and protective rites."}
Concept: Nimitta-jñāna (omen-reading) and prāyaścitta/śānti as dharmic response to ariṣṭa (threatening signs).
Application: Treat adverse signs as prompts for restraint, postponement, and propitiatory rites rather than reckless action.
Khanda Section: Shanti-kalpa (Omens, pacificatory rites, and remedial measures)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village/royal road scene: a female elephant in musth with streaming temporal fluid and wild gaze; nearby priests prepare a large śānti rite with fire altar and offerings; a parallel vignette shows a worried household after an untimely miscarriage, seeking ritual protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, stylized musth elephant with pronounced eyes and temple streaks, Brahmin priests around a homa-kuṇḍa performing śānti, secondary panel of household seeking blessings, flat iconic composition, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights: central musth elephant as ominous nimitta, priests performing grand śānti with ornate vessels, gold-work on ritual implements and borders, devotional-protective mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework: instructional depiction of śānti setup—altar, ladles, offerings—alongside the omen of the elephant; subdued palette, emphasis on ritual details.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly travel road with elephant in musth causing alarm, attendants and priests arranging a large fire rite; fine architectural background, detailed textiles, narrative split scene including household crisis."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अयुताच्छान्तिः = अयुतात् + शान्तिः (त् + श् → च्छ्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 320 (Śānti-kalpa omens and remedies); Agni Purana 321 (Astra-śānti procedures as remedial follow-up)
FAQs
It gives an omen-based diagnostic and its remedy: seeing a female elephant in musth is treated as an inauspicious sign requiring an “ayuta-level” (major) śānti, and an untimely miscarriage is presented as an omen of loss/destruction of the outcome.
It exemplifies the Purana’s shanti-kalpa/utpāta literature—cataloging observable signs (animal omens, reproductive mishaps) and pairing them with graded ritual responses—showing how the text functions as a practical manual alongside theology.
The verse frames certain disturbing events as indicators of inauspicious karma or impending harm, and prescribes śānti as a corrective act to pacify forces causing obstruction and to restore auspicious order (śubha).