Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 17
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
धीरो दक्षः शुचिर्भक्तो जपध्यानादितत्परः सिद्धद्यन्तदलैर् अपीति ज जपपूर्णाहुतादिनेति ख सिद्धस्तपस्वी कुशलस्तन्त्रज्ञः सत्यभाषणः
dhīro dakṣaḥ śucirbhakto japadhyānāditatparaḥ siddhadyantadalair apīti ja japapūrṇāhutādineti kha siddhastapasvī kuśalastantrajñaḥ satyabhāṣaṇaḥ
അവൻ ധീരൻ, ദക്ഷൻ, ശുചി, ഭക്തൻ—ജപം, ധ്യാനം മുതലായവയിൽ തത്പരൻ. അവൻ സിദ്ധൻ: തപസ്വി, കുശലൻ, തന്ത്രജ്ഞൻ, സത്യഭാഷി।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Define the qualifications (lakṣaṇa) of a siddha/sādhaka: purity, steadiness, devotion, truthfulness, and competence in japa-dhyāna and tantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Siddha/Sādhaka Lakṣaṇa (Qualifications of the Accomplished Practitioner)","lookup_keywords":["sādhaka lakṣaṇa","siddha lakṣaṇa","japa dhyāna","śuci bhakta","satya-bhāṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"An accomplished practitioner is steady, capable, pure, devoted, focused on japa and meditation, ascetic, skilled, tantra-knowing, and truthful—these traits stabilize mantra-sādhana."}
Concept: Inner and outer discipline (śauca, satya, tapas) is the ethical-psychological foundation for effective sādhana and siddhi.
Application: Cultivate truthfulness, cleanliness, devotion, and consistent japa-dhyāna; assess readiness for advanced tantra by these markers.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa, Dhyana, and Siddha-lakshana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composed sādhaka seated in meditation with mālā, clean attire and simple ascetic setting; surrounding symbols show japa, homa, and scripture study, emphasizing truth and purity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, serene ascetic figure with mālā, minimal background with lamp and manuscript, symbolic inscriptions for satya and śauca, balanced symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central siddha with gold aura, ornate but restrained altar items (mālā, lamp, scripture), gold detailing highlighting purity and devotion, deep saturated colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional portrait: labels for qualities (dhīra, dakṣa, śuci, bhakta), sādhaka in calm posture, fine linework and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, quiet study-meditation scene in an ashram veranda, sādhaka with rosary and manuscript, subtle depiction of austerity, detailed textiles and natural background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śuciḥ + bhaktaḥ → śucir bhaktaḥ (visarga→r before voiced). siddha-yantra-dalaiḥ + api → ...dalair api (visarga→r). Verse contains apparent pāṭha-markers 'ja', 'kha' and spacing; treated as non-lexical.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292 (pūjā-vidhi and siddha markers)
FAQs
It defines the core qualifications of a siddha/sādhaka: purity, devotion, disciplined japa and dhyāna, tapas, competence in ritual method (tantra), and truthfulness—practical markers used to assess readiness for advanced worship and mantra practice.
Alongside topics like temple rites, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana also systematizes spiritual technology—here giving a concise, checklist-like profile of the accomplished practitioner, integrating ethics (truth), psychology (steadiness), and ritual science (tantra).
The verse links inner purity and truthful conduct with mantra-discipline; such alignment is presented as the foundation for siddhi (spiritual accomplishment) and for producing merit through effective, non-defective ritual practice.