Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8

Chapter 323 — The Six-Limbed Aghora Astras (षडङ्गान्यघोरस्त्राणि)

Devanagari script

अघोरास्त्रमघोरन्तु द्वाविमौ मन्त्रराजकौ जपहोमार्चनाद्युद्धे शत्रुसैन्यं विमर्दयेत्

Transliteration

aghorāstramaghorantu dvāvimau mantrarājakau japahomārcanādyuddhe śatrusainyaṃ vimardayet

Translation

“Aghorāstra” dan “Aghora”—dua-duanya ialah mantra berdaulat, raja segala mantra. Dengan penerapannya melalui japa (ulangan), homa (persembahan api), arcana (pemujaan), bahkan di medan perang, seseorang dapat menghancurkan bala tentera musuh.

Word by Word

• अघोरास्त्रम्: Aghora-weapon (mantra)
• अघोरास्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘Aghora-weapon (mantra)’; here as one of two subjects

• अघोरम्: Aghora (mantra)
• अघोरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextual), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; second item in coordination

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संख्या-विशेषण

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• मन्त्रराजकौ: (are) two mantra-kings
• मन्त्रराजकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + राजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘kings among mantras’

• जपहोमार्चनाद्युद्धे: in recitation, homa, worship etc., and in battle
• जपहोमार्चनाद्युद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप + होम + अर्चन + आदि + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार/तत्पुरुष; अधिकरण ‘in (contexts of) japa, homa, worship, etc., and in battle’

• शत्रुसैन्यम्: the enemy army
• शत्रुसैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘enemy-army’

• विमर्दयेत्: should crush/subdue
• विमर्दयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√मृद्/√मर्द् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should crush/subdue’

Speaker

Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: aghorāstramaghorantu = aghorāstram + aghoram + tu; dvāvimau = dvau + imau; japahomārcanādyuddhe = japa+homa+arcana+ādi+yuddhe (compound in locative).

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Aghora
• Aghorāstra
• Mantra (Mantra-śāstra)
• Homa
• Arcana
• Yuddha

FAQs

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

It teaches the prayoga (application) of two ‘mantra-kings’—Aghora and Aghorāstra—stating they can be deployed via japa, homa, and arcana, and also operationally in warfare to subdue an opposing force.

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

It exemplifies the text’s coverage beyond mythology into applied ritual-technology—mantra-śāstra linked to practical outcomes (protection, victory, enemy suppression), aligning with the Purana’s broad catalog of rites, disciplines, and tactical knowledge.

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

By prescribing mantra-use through orthodox ritual means (japa, homa, arcana), it frames power as arising from disciplined, consecrated practice—implying that efficacy and merit depend on correct rite, purity, and restraint rather than mere aggression.