Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 19

Derivation

Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः

Devanagari script

महापाशुपतास्त्रन्तु सर्वदुष्टप्रमर्दनम् प्रासादः सकलः प्रोक्तो निष्कलः प्रोच्यते ऽधुना

Transliteration

mahāpāśupatāstrantu sarvaduṣṭapramardanam prāsādaḥ sakalaḥ prokto niṣkalaḥ procyate 'dhunā

Translation

ମହାପାଶୁପତାସ୍ତ୍ର ସର୍ବ ଦୁଷ୍ଟଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରମର୍ଦ୍ଦନ କରେ ବୋଲି ଘୋଷିତ। ସକଳ (ସାକାର) ପ୍ରାସାଦ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣିତ; ଏବେ ନିଷ୍କଳ (ନିରାକାର) ବ୍ୟାଖ୍ୟା କରାଯାଉଛି।

Word by Word

• महापाशुपतास्त्रम्: the great Pāśupata weapon
• महापाशुपतास्त्रम्: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject/Object per context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-पाशुपत-अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तत्पुरुषः—महच्च तत् पाशुपतमस्त्रम् (the great Pāśupata weapon)

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषबोधक अव्यय (particle)

• सर्वदुष्टप्रमर्दनम्: the crusher of all wicked (things/beings)
• सर्वदुष्टप्रमर्दनम्: विशेषण/अपादेय (Appositive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-दुष्ट-प्रमर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तत्पुरुषः—सर्वेषां दुष्टानां प्रमर्दनम् (crushing of all evil ones)

• प्रासादः: the prāsāda (diagram/structure)
• प्रासादः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• सकलः: with parts / complete
• सकलः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु) क्त/कृदन्त
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः—‘has been said/declared’

• निष्कलः: partless
• निष्कलः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः-कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुषः—कलाभिः रहितः (partless)

• प्रोच्यते: is said / is called
• प्रोच्यते: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time: now)

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: अस्त्रम् + तु → अस्त्रन्तु (म्+त्); प्रोच्यते + अधुना → प्रोच्यतेऽधुना (अवग्रह)

Characters & Entities

• Pāśupata-astra
• Śiva (implied by Pāśupata)
• Prāsāda (temple)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Mahā-Pāśupata astra as a supreme destructive/protective weapon (astra-vidyā) and introduces a technical doctrinal classification of the prāsāda into sakala (manifest/iconic) and niṣkala (formless/aniconic or transcendent) modes for subsequent instruction.

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

In a single transition it bridges two domains typical of the Agni Purāṇa’s compendious style—(1) astravidyā/mantra-śāstra concerning Śaiva weapons like the Pāśupata astra, and (2) vastu/temple-theology by classifying temples and worship as sakala vs. niṣkala—showing how warfare/protection lore and ritual-architectural doctrine coexist within one text.

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

By framing the Mahā-Pāśupata astra as the destroyer of duṣṭas, the verse emphasizes dharma-protection (removal of adharma) and then turns inward to the niṣkala teaching, pointing from external conquest to the higher, formless understanding of the divine—often associated with purification of intent and elevation of worship from form to transcendence.