Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Tvaritājñānam
Knowledge of Tvaritā, the Swift Goddess) — Agni Purana, Adhyāya 314 (as introduced after 313
कुम्भववद्धारिता सर्वशत्रुहृत् सर्वदायिका विषन्नश्येत् कर्णजपादक्षराद्यैश् च दण्डकैः
kumbhavavaddhāritā sarvaśatruhṛt sarvadāyikā viṣannaśyet karṇajapādakṣarādyaiś ca daṇḍakaiḥ
Когда его удерживают прочно, подобно сосуду (то есть закрепляют как охранительный талисман/обряд), оно становится уничтожителем всех врагов и дарователем всех даров; уныние исчезает, если прошептать его в ухо, и так же — при чтении метрических формул, начинающихся с слогов (akṣara-ādi), и стихов даṇḍaka.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual/mantra applications)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Rakṣā-kalpa: using mantra as a secured talisman/retention rite; ear-whisper (karṇa-japa) and specific metrical recitations (daṇḍaka) for removing dejection and neutralizing hostility.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Karna-japa and dhāraṇa of mantra for rakṣā (enemy-removal, gift-bestowal)","lookup_keywords":["raksha-kalpa","karna-japa","dharana","dandaka","shatru-hara"],"quick_summary":"The verse teaches that a mantra, when firmly ‘retained’ as a protective rite/talisman, functions as an all-purpose protector and benefactor; dejection is countered by whispering it into the ear and by reciting akṣara-ādi and daṇḍaka metrical formulas."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Śabda (mantra) gains protective potency through niyama: dhāraṇa (retention/secure keeping) and japa-vidhi (ear-whisper, metrical recitation).
Application: Adopt disciplined recitation modes (karṇa-japa, chandas-bound daṇḍaka) and secure keeping of the mantra-object for protective and confidence-restoring outcomes.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya & Raksha-kalpa (Protective rites / occult-ritual instructions)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka holds a sealed mantra-talisman ‘like a jar’, whispering a mantra into a devotee’s ear; nearby are palm/birch manuscripts with daṇḍaka verses, suggesting structured recitation dispelling gloom and warding enemies.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, sādhaka in white dhoti performing karṇa-japa to a seated devotee, a sealed kumbha-like talisman in hand, stylized manuscript leaves with Sanskrit syllables, protective aura motifs, minimal background architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halo, central figure of a mantra-upāsaka holding a small sealed amulet/kumbha-symbol, right hand near the devotee’s ear (karṇa-japa), ornate borders, gold highlights on manuscript and protective yantra motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional composition: left panel shows dhāraṇa of talisman, right panel shows karṇa-japa; include clear birch manuscript with daṇḍaka text blocks and akṣara-ādi syllable rows.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior with a learned sādhaka whispering into a patron’s ear, a small sealed talisman on a tray, scribes holding manuscripts with daṇḍaka verses, fine detailing, subdued palette, emphasis on gesture and text objects."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुम्भववद् → कुम्भवत् (द्वित्व-लेखदोष/सन्धि-समायोजन). विषन्नश्येत् → विषत् नश्येत् (त् + न → न्न). कर्णजपादक्षराद्यैश् → कर्णजपात् अक्षराद्यैः (त् + अ → त् अ; 'श्' = visarga/sandhi spelling).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 314 (Tvaritājñāna conclusion and transition to stambhanādi-mantrāḥ); Agni Purana 315 (stambhana-mohana-vaśya etc. mantras, as the operational context of rakṣā/abhicāra)
FAQs
It teaches practical mantra-application methods: dhāraṇa (retaining/keeping the mantra as a protective support), karṇa-japa (whispered recitation into the ear), and the use of specific metrical recitations such as akṣara-ādi formulas and daṇḍaka verses for protective and prosperity-oriented results.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual technology—how mantras are deployed (wearing/keeping, whisper-japa, and metrical formats). This is characteristic of the Agni Purana’s wide scope, cataloguing procedural details alongside doctrine.
The verse frames mantra-practice as both protective (enemy-removal) and restorative (dispelling viṣāda, dejection), implying purification of mind and circumstances through disciplined japa and correct ritual deployment.