Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 13

Trailokya-mohinī Śrī-Lakṣmī-ādi-pūjā and Durgā-yoga

Protective and Siddhi Rites

Devanagari script

दक्षिणाभयहस्ताभां वामहस्तवरप्रदां श्वेतगन्धांशुकामेकरौम्यमालास्त्रधारिणीं

Transliteration

dakṣiṇābhayahastābhāṃ vāmahastavarapradāṃ śvetagandhāṃśukāmekaraumyamālāstradhāriṇīṃ

Translation

ତାଙ୍କ ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ହସ୍ତଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଅଭୟମୁଦ୍ରା ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କରେ, ବାମ ହସ୍ତ ଵରଦାନ ଦେଇଥାଏ। ସେ ଶ୍ୱେତ ସୁଗନ୍ଧିତ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ପିନ୍ଧି, ଏକ ଶୁଭ ମାଳା ଓ ଶସ୍ତ୍ର ଧାରଣ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• dakṣiṇa-abhaya-hastābhyām: with (her) right hand (in) the fear-dispelling gesture
• dakṣiṇa-abhaya-hastābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे (Feminine) तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd) द्विवचन (Dual); समासः—तत्पुरुषः; ‘दक्षिणे अभयहस्ते’ इति (with the right hand showing fearlessness)

• vāma-hasta-vara-pradām: (her) who grants boons with the left hand
• vāma-hasta-vara-pradām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + pradā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे (Feminine) द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd) एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः; ‘वामहस्तेन वरं प्रददाति’ इति (granting boons with the left hand)

• śveta-gandha-aṃśuka-āmeka-raumiya-mālā-astra-dhāriṇīm: (her) who bears white fragrant garments/ornaments, a woollen garland, and weapons
• śveta-gandha-aṃśuka-āmeka-raumiya-mālā-astra-dhāriṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśuka (प्रातिपदिक) + āmeka (प्रातिपदिक) + raumiya (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे (Feminine) द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd) एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; ‘श्वेतगन्धयुक्तं अंशुकं, आमेकं, रौमियं, मालां, अस्त्रं च धारयन्ती’ इति (bearing white fragrant garments/ornaments, a woollen garland, and weapons)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Devi-dhyana for puja: visualize the correct mudras, dress, ornaments, and weapons before worship and mantra-japa.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Devi/Durga Dhyana-Lakshana: Abhaya–Varada, Shveta-vastra, Mala, Astra","lookup_keywords":["Durga dhyana","abhaya mudra","varada mudra","shveta vastra","astra-dharini"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a compact iconographic template for meditating on the Goddess: right hand(s) in abhaya, left granting boons, white fragrant garments, auspicious garland, and weapons—used as the mental image prior to worship."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhyana as the foundation of effective puja: form-visualization (rupa) stabilizes devotion and intention (sankalpa).

Application: Use the described form as the standardized mental image during āvāhana and japa to maintain ekāgratā (one-pointedness).

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devi/Durga iconography and dhyana-lakshana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene Devi/Durga seated or standing, right hand in abhaya, left in varada, wearing white fragrant garments, a single auspicious garland, and holding weapons; aura of protection and blessing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Devi/Durga with abhaya and varada mudras, white garments with subtle floral perfume motifs, single garland, multiple weapons, flat vibrant colors, ornate jewelry, sacred halo, symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Devi/Durga with abhaya-varada, white silk attire, heavy gold ornaments and embossed prabhavali, single garland, weapons rendered with gold highlights, rich red-green background, devotional icon panel","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, soft shading, Devi/Durga in white garments, clear depiction of abhaya and varada, single garland, weapons neatly arranged, calm face, minimal background with decorative arch","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, goddess figure with delicate facial features, white perfumed robe, single garland, weapons in hands, fine textile patterns, subtle halo, courtly palette, detailed borders"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: दक्षिणाभयहस्ताभां = dakṣiṇa-abhaya-hastābhyām; वामहस्तवरप्रदां = vāma-hasta-vara-pradām; श्वेतगन्धांशुकामेकरौम्यमालास्त्रधारिणीं treated as a multi-member tatpuruṣa compound ending in धारीणीम्.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 307 (Puja-vidhi: Devi-dhyana and abhyarcana context)

Characters & Entities

• Devī (Goddess)

FAQs

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

It gives dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditation/iconographic specification) for the Devī image: abhaya-mudrā, vara-pradāna (boon-giving hand), white fragrant garments, and the carrying of garland and weapons—used for pratimā-nirmāṇa and pūjā visualization.

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

Alongside governance, medicine, and warfare, the Agni Purana also preserves precise temple-ritual and iconography manuals; this verse is a compact specification for how a Goddess form should be visualized and represented in worship and image-making.

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

Meditating on the Devī as fear-dispelling (abhaya) and boon-bestowing (vara-pradā) supports protection, confidence, and devotional merit, aligning the worshipper’s mind with her auspicious and safeguarding power.