Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 6

Chapter 308 — Worship of Tvaritā (त्वरितापूजा)

Devanagari script

वैश्यनागकटीबन्धा वृषलाहिकृतनूपुरा एवं रूपात्मिका भूत्वा तन्मन्त्रं नियुतं जपेत्

Transliteration

vaiśyanāgakaṭībandhā vṛṣalāhikṛtanūpurā evaṃ rūpātmikā bhūtvā tanmantraṃ niyutaṃ japet

Translation

ਵੈਸ਼੍ਯ-ਨਾਗ ਨਾਲ ਬਣਿਆ ਕਟਿਬੰਧ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਵ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਲਾਹੀ ਨਾਲ ਬਣੇ ਨੂਪੁਰ ਪਾ ਕੇ—ਇਸ ਰੂਪ ਨੂੰ ਧਿਆਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਧਾਰ ਕੇ—ਉਸ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਲੱਖ ਜਪ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• वैश्य-नाग-कटी-बन्धा: having a waist-band (kaṭībandha) of (vaiśya-)nāga
• वैश्य-नाग-कटी-बन्धा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + कटी (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (descriptive: ‘having a waist-band of vaiśya-nāga’)

• वृषल-अहि-कृत-नूपुरा: with anklets made of a (vṛṣala-)snake
• वृषल-अहि-कृत-नूपुरा: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषल (प्रातिपदिक) + अहि (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) + नूपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृत (क्त-प्रत्यय, कृ-धातु) as participial element inside compound; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘whose anklets are made of (vṛṣala-)snake’

• एवं: thus
• एवं: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• रूप-आत्मिका: having such a form/nature
• रूप-आत्मिका: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘whose nature is (that) form’

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Absolutive—prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund, त्वा-प्रत्यय); ‘having become’

• तत्-मन्त्रम्: that mantra
• तत्-मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘that mantra’)

• नियुतम्: a niyuta (ten-thousand) times / ten thousand
• नियुतम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; numeral adjective qualifying mantra (count)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic ritual/tantric procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual visualization (rūpa-kalpanā) combined with a fixed japa-saṅkhyā (niyuta = 100,000) for mantra-siddhi.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rūpa-kalpanā with Nāga-kaṭībandha and Nūpura; Niyuta-japa","lookup_keywords":["kaṭībandha","nāga","nūpura","niyuta-japa","rūpa-kalpanā"],"quick_summary":"Assume the prescribed visualized form (with specific belt and anklets) and complete 100,000 repetitions of the mantra as a standard siddhi-producing regimen."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-siddhi depends on saṅkhyā-niyama (fixed count) and dhyāna-niyama (fixed visualization).

Application: Adopt a consistent dhyāna-form and complete a full puraścaraṇa-style count (here 100,000) without breaking discipline.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra-Sādhana (Ritual Visualization and Japa-vidhi)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka visualizes a divine form adorned with a serpent waist-belt and anklets; the scene emphasizes disciplined mantra repetition with a rosary and a steady posture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized sādhaka in meditation, visualized Devī-form faintly behind, serpent waist-belt highlighted, anklets visible, sacred geometry subtle, earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central visualized deity-form with nāga-kaṭībandha and ornate nūpura, gold embossing on ornaments, sādhaka seated below with japamālā, temple arch framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: sādhaka seated with mālā, deity-form diagrammatically shown with waist-belt and anklets labeled by placement, soft colors and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with sādhaka performing japa, translucent divine form with serpent belt and anklets, detailed textiles, precise ornament rendering"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: tanmantraṃ = तत् + मन्त्रम् (anusvāra sandhi). Compounds resolved as samāsa-padas: vaiśya-nāga-kaṭī-bandhā; vṛṣala-ahi-kṛta-nūpurā; rūpātmikā = रूप-आत्मिका.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 308 (mantra-japa and visualization sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Mantra-japa
• Nāga (serpent category)
• Devī-rūpa (visualized form)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a sādhana method combining ritual visualization (assuming a specified form with symbolic ornaments) and a fixed japa-count: repetition of the given mantra for one niyuta (100,000) times.

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

Beyond narrative theology, it preserves operational ritual details—materials/technical terms for ritual adornment, dhyāna-based embodiment, and standardized japa metrics—showing the text’s wide coverage of practical sādhana alongside other sciences.

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

The verse frames mantra-practice as disciplined, count-based purification: sustained japa supported by focused visualization is presented as a means to concentrate mind, stabilize devotion, and make the mantra efficacious.