Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 18
Mantras for the Parasol and Other Royal/Worship Emblems (छत्रादिमन्त्रादयः)
पृष्ठतो ऽनुगतस्त्वेष रक्षतु त्वां स देवराट् अवाप्नुहि जयं युद्धे सुस्थश् चैव सदा व्रज
pṛṣṭhato 'nugatastveṣa rakṣatu tvāṃ sa devarāṭ avāpnuhi jayaṃ yuddhe susthaś caiva sadā vraja
നിന്റെ പിന്നിൽ അനുഗമിക്കുന്ന ആ ദേവരാട് (ദേവാധിപൻ) നിന്നെ രക്ഷിക്കട്ടെ. യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ജയം പ്രാപിക്ക; എപ്പോഴും ക്ഷേമത്തോടെ മുന്നേറുക।
Agni (narrating ritual/war-protection formula in Agni Purana’s instructional voice)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Battlefield protective blessing for a warrior/commander—invoking divine rear-guard protection, victory, and sustained health during campaign.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Yuddha-rakṣā āśīrvāda (rear-guard protection and victory)","lookup_keywords":["yuddha-raksha","devarat protection","jaya","sustha"],"quick_summary":"A benediction asking the deva-rāja to guard from behind and grant victory and well-being—used as a pre-battle or departure recitation."}
Alamkara Type: Āśīrvāda (benedictive utterance)
Concept: Victory is paired with well-being; protection is both divine and strategic (guarding the rear).
Application: Before risky action, combine prayer with practical safeguards—assign rear protection and preserve health to sustain effectiveness.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda / Yuddha-mantra (Protective blessings for battle and victory)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warrior advances toward battle while a radiant deva-king stands behind as a protective sentinel; banners and dust of march suggest campaign movement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, marching warrior in profile, luminous Indra-like guardian behind with protective aura, stylized battlefield horizon, strong reds/ochres and bold contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central warrior with gold-highlighted armor, divine guardian behind with gilded halo, victory symbols (standard, conch-like auspicious motifs) in ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clean narrative: warrior stepping forward, guardian deity positioned behind to illustrate ‘pṛṣṭhataḥ’, subtle instructional clarity, delicate ornament.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, campaign scene with detailed landscape, warrior and retinue moving forward, a celestial figure behind in the sky plane indicating protection, fine linework."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऽनुगतस्त्वेष→अनुगतः तु एषः; सुस्थश्→सुस्थः; चैव→च एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 268 (yuddha-mantra/rakṣā-prayoga sequence)
FAQs
A yuddha-rakṣā (battle-protection) benediction: invoking the divine sovereign as a rear-guard protector and praying for victory and bodily safety while proceeding to combat.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical manuals—here, Dhanurveda-linked war invocations—showing that the text preserves not only theology but also applied guidance for kingship and battlefield conduct.
It frames warfare under divine oversight: seeking protection and right outcome through remembrance of the gods, emphasizing disciplined action with reliance on dharmic guardianship rather than mere force.