Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 20
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
तत्तेजस्तव नागेन्द्र दिव्यभावसमन्वितं उपतिष्ठतु भद्रन्ते रक्ष राजानमाहवे
tattejastava nāgendra divyabhāvasamanvitaṃ upatiṣṭhatu bhadrante rakṣa rājānamāhave
ਹੇ ਨਾਗੇਂਦ੍ਰ! ਦਿਵ੍ਯ ਭਾਵ ਨਾਲ ਯੁਕਤ ਤੇਰਾ ਉਹ ਤੇਜ ਤੇਰੇ ਮੰਗਲ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਹੋਵੇ; ਅਤੇ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਜੇ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰ।
Agni (as narrator of protective rites/mantras) to Vasiṣṭha (traditional Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"A protective invocation addressed to the elephant-lord to deploy its divine tejas for safeguarding the king during battle.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Battle-Protective Invocation to Nāgendra (Śrīgaja)","lookup_keywords":["nāgendra","rakṣa rājānam","āhave","divya-bhāva","tejas"],"quick_summary":"Invoke the elephant’s divine-endowed splendor to ‘stand forth’ and protect the king in battle. Used as a pre-battle protective prayer aligning morale, auspiciousness, and disciplined force."}
Alamkara Type: Sambodhana (direct address)
Weapon Type: Elephant corps (gaja-yuddha support)
Concept: Rakṣā through invocation: calling forth tejas (inner/outer potency) aligned with divya-bhāva for righteous protection.
Application: Use concise protective prayers/affirmations before high-risk duty to focus intent, stabilize fear, and coordinate protective action.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Yuddha-raksha (Protective prayers for the king in battle)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Battlefield
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On the battlefield, the elephant-lord is invoked: its divine splendor rises like a protective aura as it shields the king amid war banners and dust.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic battlefield with conches and drums; central elephant with radiant aura shielding a crowned king; stylized dust clouds, bold outlines, auspicious protective gesture implied by stance; ritual lamp motifs at edges.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king and elephant in frontal protective composition; gold leaf aura around the elephant’s head and ornaments; battle elements simplified into symbolic banners; strong devotional-protective mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction of protective positioning: elephant slightly ahead and to the side of the king; subtle aura indicating tejas; fine linework and readable spatial arrangement.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed battle scene with standards, archers, and cavalry; the elephant forms a protective bulwark near the king; delicate rendering of armor and expressions; luminous wash around the elephant to show tejas."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्+तेजः→तत्तेजः; तेजः+तव→तेजस्तव; भद्रम्+ते→भद्रन्ते (म्→न्); राजानम्+आहवे→राजानमाहवे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 290.18 (divya-bhāva); Agni Purana 290.16–17 (honor and duty exchange)
FAQs
It functions as a yuddha-rakṣā (battle-protection) invocation, calling upon the Nāga-lord’s divya-tejas (divine radiance) to actively safeguard the king during combat.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied royal and military material—practical protective formulas and invocations used for governance and warfare—showing its coverage beyond purely devotional topics.
Invoking divine protection for a righteous ruler frames kingship as a dharmic trust; safeguarding the king in battle is treated as preserving social order (rājadharma) and reducing harm through sanctioned, auspicious means.