Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 13
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
जानता च हृषीकेश पुण्डरीकाक्ष माधव नामत्रयोच्चारणतः स्वप्ने यातु मम क्षयं
jānatā ca hṛṣīkeśa puṇḍarīkākṣa mādhava nāmatrayoccāraṇataḥ svapne yātu mama kṣayaṃ
Dengan sedar menyebut tiga nama—Hṛṣīkeśa, Puṇḍarīkākṣa, dan Mādhava—semoga lenyaplah kemerosotan/derita (affliction) diriku, bahkan dalam mimpi sekalipun.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Tri-nama-japa as a protective prayer for alleviating kṣaya (wasting/decline) and removing inauspicious dream-effects; used at bedtime or during illness.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Hṛṣīkeśa–Puṇḍarīkākṣa–Mādhava tri-nāma for kṣaya-śamana","lookup_keywords":["Hṛṣīkeśa","Puṇḍarīkākṣa","Mādhava","tri-nāma","kṣaya-śamana"],"quick_summary":"Knowingly uttering these three Viṣṇu-names is framed as a mantra-prayoga to pacify wasting affliction, extending protection even into the dream-state."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (name-repetition)
Concept: Nāma as upāya: conscious utterance (jñāna-pūrvaka-japa) purifies and counteracts suffering across waking and dream states.
Application: Adopt daily smaraṇa/japa with attention (not mechanical), especially at liminal times (sandhyā, bedtime).
Khanda Section: Nama-japa and Smarana (Vishnu-sahasranama / Hari-nama-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee seated near a lamp at night, hands in añjali, softly repeating the three names; above, a serene four-armed Viṣṇu with lotus-like eyes appears as a protective vision over the sleeping space.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, four-armed Viṣṇu with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, large lotus eyes emphasized, devotee chanting at bedside with oil lamp, stylized clouds indicating dream-state, ornate floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with gold foil halo and jewelry, lotus-eyed face, devotee below in añjali, small lamp and palm-leaf manuscript, rich reds, embossed ornaments, devotional nocturnal protection theme.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, soft pastel palette, instructional feel: devotee seated in japa posture, text panel showing the three names, Viṣṇu icon above, minimal background, calm night ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate night chamber scene with patterned textiles, devotee reciting, a luminous Viṣṇu apparition in the sky, fine detailing of lamp, manuscripts, and architecture, subdued blues for night."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नामत्रयोच्चारणतः = नामत्रय + उच्चारणतः (तत्पुरुष-समास; -तः पञ्चमी-एकवचन).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172 (nāma-japa, prāyaścitta-prayoga context)
FAQs
It teaches a practical nama-japa prayoga: consciously recite a specific triad of Vishnu names as a protective act intended to neutralize affliction—even arising through dream states.
Alongside topics like polity, medicine, and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves applied devotional technologies (name-mahatmya and japa-prayoga), showing how specific recitations are used for protection and relief from distress.
It frames remembrance of Vishnu through deliberate name-utterance as a purifier and remover of suffering, extending protection to subtle states (dream), implying deep samskara-level cleansing and divine safeguarding.