Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 18

Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)

Devanagari script

बाला विंशाक्षरान्ता च रुद्रा द्वाविंशगायुधा तत ऊर्ध्वन्तु ये मन्त्रा दृद्धा यावच्छतत्रयं

Transliteration

bālā viṃśākṣarāntā ca rudrā dvāviṃśagāyudhā tata ūrdhvantu ye mantrā dṛddhā yāvacchatatrayaṃ

Translation

ബാലാ-മന്ത്രം ഇരുപത് അക്ഷരങ്ങളിൽ സമ്പൂർണ്ണമാകുന്നു. രുദ്രാ-മന്ത്രം ഇരുപത്തിരണ്ട് (അക്ഷരരൂപ) ആയുധങ്ങളാൽ സജ്ജമാണെന്ന് പറയുന്നു. ഇവയ്ക്കുമീതെയുള്ള ദൃഢ/പ്രതിഷ്ഠിത മന്ത്രങ്ങൾ പരമാവധി മൂന്നു നൂറ് അക്ഷരങ്ങൾ വരെ വ്യാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• बाला: (the) Bālā (mantra/class)
• बाला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विंश-अक्षर-अन्ता: ending with twenty syllables
• विंश-अक्षर-अन्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विंश (संख्याशब्द, प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘विंशत्याक्षराणाम् अन्तः यस्याः’ (ending at 20 syllables)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• रुद्रा: (the) Rudrā (mantra/class)
• रुद्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• द्वा-विंश-ग-अयुधा: having a 22-(syllable) ‘weapon’ (i.e., 22-syllabled)
• द्वा-विंश-ग-अयुधा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वा (संख्या, प्रातिपदिक) + विंश (संख्या, प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक/गत्यर्थक-उपपद) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—द्वाविंशत् (22) + (ग) + आयुध; अर्थतः ‘द्वाविंशत्यक्षर-आयुधा’ इति (22-syllabled weapon-like)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Avyaya (अव्यय/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-प्रयोगः; अर्थः—‘thereafter/from that’

• ऊर्ध्वम्: further/upwards
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Direction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘upwards/further’

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• ये: which (those)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम

• मन्त्राः: mantras
• मन्त्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• दृढाः: firm/strong
• दृढाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• यावत्-शत-त्रयम्: up to three hundred
• यावत्-शत-त्रयम्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत्—‘शतत्रय-पर्यन्तम्’ (up to three hundred)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: यावच्छतत्रयं = यावत् + शतत्रयम् (त् + श → च्छ).

Characters & Entities

• Bālā (mantra/devī)
• Rudra

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches mantra-taxonomy by akṣara (syllable) count—identifying the Bālā mantra as 20-syllabled, the Rudrā mantra as 22-syllabled, and stating that higher (more extended) established mantras can run up to 300 syllables.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

By cataloging mantras with technical metrics (akṣara-count and functional descriptors like ‘āyudha’), it preserves a reference-style framework typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, systematizing approach to ritual and esoteric sciences.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Correct identification and disciplined use of mantras in their fixed forms (dṛḍha) is presented as essential for efficacy in worship and ritual, supporting purification and the intended spiritual results through precise practice.