Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 19
Derivation
Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः
महापाशुपतास्त्रन्तु सर्वदुष्टप्रमर्दनम् प्रासादः सकलः प्रोक्तो निष्कलः प्रोच्यते ऽधुना
mahāpāśupatāstrantu sarvaduṣṭapramardanam prāsādaḥ sakalaḥ prokto niṣkalaḥ procyate 'dhunā
ਮਹਾਪਾਸ਼ੁਪਤ ਅਸਤ੍ਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਭ ਦੁਰਜਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਰਦਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਘੋਸ਼ਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਸਕਲ (ਸਾਕਾਰ) ਪ੍ਰਾਸਾਦ ਵਰਣਿਤ ਹੋਇਆ; ਹੁਣ ਨਿਸ਼ਕਲ (ਨਿਰਾਕਾਰ) ਦਾ ਕਥਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Invoke/understand the Mahā-Pāśupata astra as a protective and punitive mantra-force against evil-doers; distinguish prāsāda teaching into sakala (manifest) and niṣkala (formless) modes for ritual and contemplation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Mahā-Pāśupata Astra and the sakala/niṣkala prāsāda distinction","lookup_keywords":["mahā-pāśupata-astra","sarva-duṣṭa-pramardana","prāsāda","sakala","niṣkala"],"quick_summary":"Declares the Great Pāśupata missile as a destroyer of evil and transitions from the manifest (sakala) temple description to the formless (niṣkala) exposition, linking architecture with metaphysical modes."}
Weapon Type: Astra (Pāśupata missile-weapon)
Concept: Sakala/niṣkala polarity: the divine is apprehended as form and as formless; ritual architecture mirrors metaphysics.
Application: In worship and design, integrate both: external form for rites (sakala) and internal contemplation of the formless (niṣkala) for higher realization.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Mantra-śāstra (Pāśupata-astravidyā and prāsāda-vastu)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Śiva-Paśupati’s radiant astra as a blazing mantra-weapon subduing dark figures symbolizing evil; beside it, a temple shown in two modes—solid manifest structure and a subtle formless aura/void diagram.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, fierce Śiva aspect with fiery astra emanation, subdued duṣṭa figures, a prāsāda silhouette transitioning into an abstract halo representing niṣkala, strong reds and blacks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Śiva with gold aura, astra depicted as a luminous emblem, temple rendered with gold relief for sakala and a plain radiant disc for niṣkala, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic split-panel: left ‘sakala prāsāda’ with labeled parts, right ‘niṣkala’ as subtle bindu/ākāśa diagram; small Śiva-Paśupati astra icon above.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dramatic scene of divine weapon light dispersing bandits, architectural cutaway of a temple with a translucent overlay indicating formless principle, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Raga Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अस्त्रम् + तु → अस्त्रन्तु (म्+त्); प्रोच्यते + अधुना → प्रोच्यतेऽधुना (अवग्रह)
Related Themes: Agni Purana prāsāda-lakṣaṇa chapters (sakala descriptions); Agni Purana Śaiva mantra/astravidyā passages (Pāśupata context)
FAQs
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.
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.
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.