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Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 2

Mantra-paribhāṣā

Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras

दशाक्षराधिका मन्त्रास्तदर्वाग्वीजसंज्ञिताः वर्धक्ये सिद्धिदा ह्य् एते मालामन्त्रास्तु यौवेन

daśākṣarādhikā mantrāstadarvāgvījasaṃjñitāḥ vardhakye siddhidā hy ete mālāmantrāstu yauvena

Os mantras com mais de dez sílabas são chamados “mālā-mantras”; os que têm menos do que isso são denominados “bīja (semente)”-mantras. Estes mantras, de fato, concedem siddhi na velhice, ao passo que os mālā-mantras são eficazes na juventude.

दशाक्षराधिकाःhaving more than ten syllables
दशाक्षराधिकाः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदश + अक्षर + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दशाक्षरैः अधिकाः = more than ten syllables)
मन्त्राःmantras
मन्त्राः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
तत्that
तत्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)
अर्वाक्below/less than that
अर्वाक्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअर्वाक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
Formदिशावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: below/this side)
बीजसंज्ञिताःcalled ‘bīja’
बीजसंज्ञिताः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootबीज + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
Formकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बीज-इति संज्ञा यस्य)
वर्धक्येin old age
वर्धक्ये:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootवर्धक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
सिद्धिदाःgranting success/accomplishment
सिद्धिदाः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसिद्धि + द (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सिद्धिं ददाति)
हिindeed/for
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle; emphasis/causal)
एतेthese
एते:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
मालामन्त्राःgarland-mantras
मालामन्त्राः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमाला + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)
यौवेनby/with youthfulness (in youth)
यौवेन:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootयौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s instructional material to Vasiṣṭha, per the common dialogue frame)

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Operational classification of mantras into bīja vs mālā by syllable-count, with an age-linked efficacy rule used to tailor sādhana prescriptions (youth vs old age).","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bīja-mantra vs Mālā-mantra and age-linked siddhi rule","lookup_keywords":["daśākṣara","bīja-mantra","mālā-mantra","siddhi","vṛddha-yauvana"],"quick_summary":"Mantras shorter than (or up to) ten syllables are treated as bīja; longer are mālā; the verse assigns siddhi-fruition patterns by life-stage—bīja in old age, mālā in youth."}

Concept: Sādhana is individualized: mantra-form and expected siddhi are correlated with adhikāra and life-stage (āśrama/age).

Application: In mantra-paddhati design, prescribe shorter bīja-japa for elders (steady, concentrated practice) and longer mālā-mantras for youth (capacity for extended recitation/ritual elaboration), while keeping guru-upadeśa central.

Khanda Section: Mantra-shastra (Japa, Mantra-bheda, Siddhi-prayoga)

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher shows two inscriptions: a short bīja-mantra (few akṣaras) and a long mālā-mantra (many akṣaras); an elder practicing japa calmly and a youth performing extended recitation with a garland/rosary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split composition—elder with rosary and short seed-mantra glyphs; youth with garland-like long mantra text; strong outlines, symbolic akṣara panels, temple aesthetic.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted mantra panels, elder and youth with ornate malas, rich textiles, luminous background; emphasis on sacred syllables with embossed gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional diagram feel—two mantra-length panels with akṣara counts, elder/youth practitioners in calm poses, soft shading and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate study scene with two practitioners of different ages, calligraphed mantra strips (short vs long), detailed rosaries, quiet interior with books and lamps."}

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मन्त्रास्तदर्वाक्... = मन्त्राः + तत् + अर्वाक्... (ः + त → स्त); ह्येते = हि + एते (इ + ए → ये).

Related Themes: Agni Purana 292 (continuation of mantra-paribhāṣā definitions)

M
Mantra
B
Bīja-mantra
M
Mālā-mantra
S
Siddhi

FAQs

It gives a technical taxonomy of mantras by syllable-count—below ten as bīja-mantras and above ten as mālā-mantras—and links each type to the practitioner’s life-stage for siddhi-oriented practice.

By treating mantra-prayoga systematically (definitions, classifications, and applied outcomes), it demonstrates the Purana’s compendium-style approach—cataloguing practical ritual technologies alongside other sciences.

It implies that mantra-sādhana is not one-size-fits-all: selecting an appropriate mantra-type for one’s āśrama/age supports steadier japa, fewer obstacles, and more reliable attainment (siddhi) within dharmic practice.