Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 20
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
सर्वपापग्रहादिभ्यो याति विष्णोः परं पदं तस्मात् पापे कृते जप्यं स्तोत्रं सर्वाघमर्दनं
sarvapāpagrahādibhyo yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padaṃ tasmāt pāpe kṛte japyaṃ stotraṃ sarvāghamardanaṃ
सर्वपापग्रहादिभ्यः मुक्त्वा विष्णोः परं पदं याति; तस्मात् पापे कृते ‘सर्वाघमर्दन’स्तोत्रं जप्यं।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta protocol: when pāpa is incurred, perform japa of the specified stotra (‘Sarvāgha-mardana’) as a remedial act; also frames protection from graha-afflictions through devotional recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Stotra-japa as Prāyaścitta: Sarvāgha-mardana","lookup_keywords":["sarvāgha-mardana","stotra-japa","prāyaścitta","graha-doṣa","viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes stotra-japa as a practical atonement after wrongdoing and as relief from graha-like seizing afflictions, aiming at Viṣṇu’s supreme state."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-nirdeśa (titling) and Hetu (therefore) structure
Concept: Atonement and liberation are linked through disciplined repetition (japa) of a sacred hymn; ‘graha’ is treated as a binding force overcome by devotion.
Application: After ethical lapse: undertake a fixed-count japa (saṅkhyā-niyama) with purity observances, dedicating the act to Viṣṇu and resolving non-repetition.
Khanda Section: Stotra-vidhi & Prāyaścitta (Atonement through Hymns and Japa)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performs japa with a mālā before a Viṣṇu shrine; shadowy ‘graha’ figures loosen their grip and dissolve as light rises toward a celestial ‘parama-pada’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Viṣṇu shrine with oil lamps, devotee seated in japa, dark graha-forms at the margins retreating, strong outlines and earthy pigments, protective aura around the chanter.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Viṣṇu as central icon with gold halo, devotee with rosary below, gold rays striking down graha silhouettes, rich ornamentation and embossed details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional japa scene—mālā, āsana, water pot, calm posture; faint graha symbols (navagraha motifs) fading in the background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate indoor scene with a devotee counting beads, a small Viṣṇu image on a stand, allegorical dark forms outside the window dispersing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvapāpagrahādibhyo resolved as sarva-pāpa-graha-ādibhyaḥ (compound + ablative plural). sarvāghamardanaṃ resolved as sarva-agha-mardanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172.19 (hearing/reciting merit); Agni Purana 172.21 (prāyaścitta + vrata)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical prāyaścitta: reciting (japa) the Sarvāgha-mardana stotra as a remedial ritual after committing sin, aimed at removing pāpa and graha-type afflictions.
Alongside many subjects, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs actionable religious technologies—stotras, japa, and atonement procedures—showing how devotion-based ritual practice functions as a systematic method for purification and protection.
The verse links purification from sin and affliction with attaining Viṣṇu’s supreme abode, framing stotra-japa as both karmic cleansing and a bhakti-based path toward liberation-oriented merit.