Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 10
Chapter 323 — The Six-Limbed Aghora Astras (षडङ्गान्यघोरस्त्राणि)
दुर्भिक्षमारीशान्त्यर्थे दुःस्वप्नहरणाय च बलादिराज्यप्राप्त्यर्थं रिपूणां नाशनाय च
durbhikṣamārīśāntyarthe duḥsvapnaharaṇāya ca balādirājyaprāptyarthaṃ ripūṇāṃ nāśanāya ca
दुर्भिक्षमारीशान्त्यर्थे दुःस्वप्नहरणाय च। बलादिराज्यप्राप्त्यर्थं रिपूणां नाशनाय च॥
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Śānti rites applied to public calamities (famine/epidemic), personal omens (bad dreams), and political aims (sovereignty, enemy-destruction).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śānti-kalpa: calamity, omen, and polity-oriented fruits","lookup_keywords":["durbhikṣa-śānti","mārī-śānti","duḥsvapna-haraṇa","rājya-prāpti","ripu-nāśa"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates practical motivations for pacificatory rites: avert famine and epidemics, remove ominous dreams, gain power/kingdom, and neutralize enemies."}
Concept: Ritual responsibility extends from private well-being to rāṣṭra-kṣema (welfare of the realm).
Application: Kings/householders deploy śānti as a dharmic response to collective crises and political instability, aiming at restoration of order.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shanti-kalpa (Protective rites and pacificatory rituals)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal and civic śānti ceremony: priests conduct homa while townspeople seek relief from famine and epidemic; the king prays for sovereignty and protection from enemies.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, procession to temple for mārī-śānti, priests at fire altar, villagers with offerings, stylized palace/temple backdrop, strong outlines, traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king and queen before a deity with gold halo, priests performing śānti-homa for prosperity and protection, ornate jewelry and gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene: separate panels showing famine relief śānti, epidemic śānti, dream-omen appeasement, and royal consecration-like prayer, fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-sponsored ritual during epidemic, physicians and priests present, king seated on carpeted dais, cityscape hints, meticulous figures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दुर्भिक्षमारीशान्त्यर्थे = दुर्-भिक्ष-मारी-शान्ति-अर्थे; दुःस्वप्नहरणाय = दुः-स्वप्न-हरणाय; बलादिराज्यप्राप्त्यर्थं = बल-आदि-राज्य-प्राप्ति-अर्थम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 323 (Śānti-kalpa aims)
FAQs
It enumerates the practical aims (prayojana) of a Śānti-prayoga: pacifying famine and epidemics, removing ominous dreams, securing political strength/sovereignty, and neutralizing enemies.
By listing both public calamity-management (famine, epidemic), personal omens (bad dreams), and royal objectives (power, kingship, enemy suppression), it shows how the Agni Purana integrates ritual technology with governance and social welfare.
Śānti-oriented acts are framed as dharmic means to reduce collective and personal afflictions (upadrava), restore auspiciousness, and protect order (rājadharma) through sanctioned, purificatory ritual action.