Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 19
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
तद्विष्णोरिति जप्त्वाथ दद्याद्रिपुमुखे पदं दक्षिणं पदं द्वात्रिंशद्दिक्षु प्राच्यादिषु क्रमात्
tadviṣṇoriti japtvātha dadyādripumukhe padaṃ dakṣiṇaṃ padaṃ dvātriṃśaddikṣu prācyādiṣu kramāt
‘ਤਦ ਵਿ్ణੋਃ…’ ਆਦਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਜਪ ਕੇ, ਫਿਰ ਸ਼ਤ੍ਰੂ ਵੱਲ ਮੁਖ ਕਰਕੇ (ਮੰਤ੍ਰ-)ਪਦ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕਰੇ। ਪੂਰਬ ਤੋਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰਕੇ ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ ਬੱਤੀ ਦਿਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ‘ਦੱਖਣ’ ਪਦ ਦਾ ਨਿਆਸ ਕਰੇ।
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तद्विष्णोरिति = tat + viṣṇoḥ + iti; दद्याद्रिपुमुखे = dadyāt + ripumukhe (t + r → dr); द्वात्रिंशद्दिक्षु = dvātriṃśat + dikṣu (t + d → dd).
FAQs
It teaches a mantra-kalpa procedure: after japa of a Viṣṇu-mantra, perform directional nyāsa/dik-bandhana by placing specified mantra-padas in sequence across the thirty-two directions, oriented toward an enemy-facing front for protection.
Beyond mythology, it preserves operational ritual technology—precise instructions for mantra-recitation, spatial orientation, and directional mapping (32 dik-scheme), reflecting the Agni Purana’s catalog-like coverage of practical liturgy and protective rites.
The act of Viṣṇu-mantra japa combined with ordered dik-nyāsa is framed as a sanctifying protective enclosure—securing the practitioner’s space, countering hostile influences, and aligning action with dharmic, deity-centered ritual order.