Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Adhyaya 236 — श्रीस्तोत्रम् (Śrī-stotra) / Hymn to Śrī (Lakṣmī) for Royal Stability and Victory
न ते वर्णयितुं शक्ता गुणान् जिह्वापि वेधसः प्रसीद देवि पद्माक्षि नास्मांस्त्याक्षीः कदाचन
na te varṇayituṃ śaktā guṇān jihvāpi vedhasaḥ prasīda devi padmākṣi nāsmāṃstyākṣīḥ kadācana
ବିଧାତା ବ୍ରହ୍ମାଙ୍କ ଜିହ୍ୱା ମଧ୍ୟ ତୁମ ଗୁଣ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରିବାକୁ ସମର୍ଥ ନୁହେଁ। ହେ ପଦ୍ମାକ୍ଷି ଦେବୀ, ପ୍ରସନ୍ନ ହୁଅ; ଆମକୁ କେବେ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରନି।
A devotee/supplicant (stuti-voice within the Agni Purana narrative, transmitted by Lord Agni)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"A supplicatory verse for daily prayer: acknowledges the ineffability of the Goddess’s qualities and asks for continued protection (atyāga), suitable for personal worship and communal stotra recitation.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Aparyāpti-stuti and śaraṇāgati: Brahmā’s tongue cannot describe Devī’s guṇa","lookup_keywords":["aparyāpti-stuti","padmākṣi","prasāda","śaraṇāgati","na tyākṣīḥ"],"quick_summary":"The verse combines hyperbolic praise of the Goddess’s indescribable qualities with a direct plea: ‘Be gracious; never abandon us.’"}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti
Concept: Śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) grounded in humility: the divine exceeds description; the devotee seeks continuous presence of grace.
Application: Use as a closing prayer in Lakṣmī-pūjā/stotra: request steadiness of fortune and virtue, and protection from abandonment (loss of śrī).
Khanda Section: Devi-stuti and Prayer (Shakti-upasana / Stotra-prakarana)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee prays to lotus-eyed Devī; even Brahmā is shown awed, implying her qualities surpass description; the devotee begs her not to abandon them.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Padmākṣī Devī seated on lotus, compassionate gaze; Brahmā with four faces shown in reverent astonishment; devotee with folded hands; warm temple mural palette and bold contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Lakṣmī with heavy gold ornaments and halo; small Brahmā figure to the side with folded hands; devotee below; gold foil highlights on lotus and jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant devotional tableau; emphasis on facial expression—gentle eyes of Devī; Brahmā depicted as scholar-creator humbled; clean composition suitable for didactic prayer scene.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate darbar-like devotional audience; goddess enthroned; Brahmā and devotee in attendance; fine detailing of garments, manuscripts, and architectural niche."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavī","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jihvā+api → jihvāpi; na+asmān+tyākṣīḥ → nāsmān tyākṣīḥ (nāsmāṃstyākṣīḥ in IAST with cluster).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 236.16 (fear of being turned away); Agni Purana 236.18 (fruit of praise)
FAQs
This verse imparts stotra-vidhi in essence: the devotional method of praising the Goddess as indescribable (anirvacanīya-guṇa) and explicitly petitioning for her prasāda (grace) and continual protection.
Alongside topics like ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana preserves practical devotional liturgy (stotras and prayers). This verse exemplifies the text’s inclusion of Shakti-upasana as a lived religious practice.
The verse frames humility and surrender: acknowledging the Goddess’ immeasurable greatness and seeking her unbroken favor. Such supplication is traditionally held to remove fear, sustain devotion, and invite protective grace (anugraha).