Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 34
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
भद्रकं परिलिख्याथ पार्श्वे पङ्क्तिं विमृज्य तु ततः षोडशभिः कोष्टैर् दिक्षु भद्राष्टकं लिखेत् सम्यग्गुह्येन योगेन जित्वा देहसमीरणम् जपध्यानरतो मन्त्री मन्त्रलक्षणमश्नुते
bhadrakaṃ parilikhyātha pārśve paṅktiṃ vimṛjya tu tataḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ koṣṭair dikṣu bhadrāṣṭakaṃ likhet samyagguhyena yogena jitvā dehasamīraṇam japadhyānarato mantrī mantralakṣaṇamaśnute
Primeiro, após traçar o diagrama auspicioso (bhadraka), deve-se alisar e limpar a linha de contorno ao seu lado. Em seguida, deve-se inscrever o Bhadrāṣṭaka nas direções, disposto em dezesseis compartimentos. Pela disciplina secreta (yoga) corretamente aplicada, tendo dominado o vento vital no corpo, o praticante de mantras—dedicado ao japa e à meditação—alcança as marcas distintivas (lakṣaṇa), isto é, a eficácia e as características próprias de um mantra.
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Drawing the bhadraka and bhadrāṣṭaka with sixteen compartments for directional installation; combining yantra-lekhana with prāṇa-jaya, japa, and dhyāna to stabilize mantra efficacy (mantra-lakṣaṇa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhadraka/Bhadrāṣṭaka Yantra with Ṣoḍaśa-koṣṭha; Prāṇa-jaya for Mantra-lakṣaṇa","lookup_keywords":["bhadraka yantra","bhadrāṣṭaka","ṣoḍaśa koṣṭha","deha-samīraṇa jaya","mantra-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Construct the auspicious diagram, refine its boundary lines, and place the directional bhadrāṣṭaka in a 16-compartment layout. With secret yogic discipline—mastering inner wind—japa and dhyāna mature the mantra into a properly ‘marked’ effective state."}
Concept: Mantra is not merely sound: its ‘lakṣaṇa’ (effective characteristics) arises from yantra-order, prāṇa mastery, and sustained japa-dhyāna.
Application: Treat breath-control and attention as prerequisites for mantra success; use the 16-compartment directional layout to prevent diffusion of mind and ritual intent.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra-Mantra-Prayoga (Tantric ritual diagramming and mantra discipline)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner draws a bhadraka yantra, wipes and straightens boundary lines, then inscribes an eightfold directional bhadrāṣṭaka within a sixteen-compartment grid; alongside, the yogin controls breath while doing japa and dhyāna, culminating in a radiant mantra-siddhi aura.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, geometric bhadraka with 16 compartments, directional markers around, priest-yogin seated with rosary, stylized breath currents, bold sacred geometry and flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate yantra with gold-highlighted grid lines, directional bhadrāṣṭaka symbols, practitioner with japa-mālā, luminous mantra aura rendered with gold foil accents","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional composition: wiping line, drawing grid, placing directional elements, yogin practicing prāṇa-jaya and japa, clean detailing and gentle shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous artist-priest drafting yantra on a cloth, compass-like precision, yogin nearby in meditation with rosary, delicate breath wisps, rich textiles and architectural backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: parilikhyātha → parilikhya + atha; koṣṭair → koṣṭaiḥ (visarga/sandhi in recitation); samyagguhyena → samyak + guhyena; mantralakṣaṇamaśnute → mantra-lakṣaṇam + aśnute.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.31 (maṇḍala divisions; heart-abiding mantra); Agni Purana 29.35 (ṣoḍaśa-bhadraka; tanmātra-śuddhi; siddhi/vairāgya)
FAQs
It teaches a yantra-prayoga: draw the bhadraka figure, prepare its border, arrange a sixteen-compartment layout, and inscribe the Bhadrāṣṭaka in the directions—then combine this with secret yogic discipline, japa, and dhyāna to mature mantra efficacy.
Alongside myth and devotion, it preserves practical, procedural knowledge—ritual geometry (yantra construction), mantra-technology (mantra-lakṣaṇa), and yogic physiology (mastery of deha-samīraṇa/prāṇa)—showing the text’s coverage of applied esoteric disciplines.
The verse frames mantra success as dependent on purity of method and inner mastery: disciplined japa-dhyāna and control of prāṇa transform the practitioner so the mantra manifests its proper ‘lakṣaṇas’ (signs of efficacy), implying spiritual refinement and protection through correct practice.