Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 43
Divya-pramāṇa-kathana
Explanation of Divine Proofs / Ordeals and Evidentiary Procedure
पवित्राणां पवित्र त्वं शोध्यं शोधय पावन सत्येन माभिरक्षस्व वरुणेत्यभिशस्तकम्
pavitrāṇāṃ pavitra tvaṃ śodhyaṃ śodhaya pāvana satyena mābhirakṣasva varuṇetyabhiśastakam
पवित्राणां पवित्र त्वं शोध्यं शोधय पावन। सत्येन माभिरक्षस्व वरुणेत्यभिशस्तकम्॥
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Protective/purificatory japa in pūjā and śuddhi contexts, invoking Varuṇa as the purifier and guardian through satya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Varuṇa Abhiśastaka (purificatory protection by satya)","lookup_keywords":["Varuṇa","pavitra","Abhiśastaka","satya","śodhana"],"quick_summary":"A Varuṇa-mantra used to purify what requires purification and to seek protection ‘by truth’; identified here as the Abhiśastaka."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Satya as a spiritual force (satya-bala) that purifies and protects when aligned with cosmic order (ṛta).
Application: Use the mantra with truthful resolve (satya-saṅkalpa) during purification, confession, or when removing ritual impurity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-prayoga and Shuddhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee/priest recites a Varuṇa mantra over ritual water and implements, seeking purification and protection through satya.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Varuṇa depicted with makara emblem and pāśa, priest holding kuśa and water vessel, rippling water motifs, sacred syllables stylized around, serene devotional mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Varuṇa enthroned with gold halo, conch-like water pot, priest below performing mantra-japa over a kalasha, rich ornamentation and gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional layout: priest, kalasha, darbha, ācamana spoon; text band showing ‘pavitrāṇāṃ pavitra…’, soft colors and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, riverside pavilion, priest chanting over a bowl of water, Varuṇa suggested in the sky/water as a regal figure, intricate textiles and flora"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: माभिरक्षस्व = मा + अभिरक्षस्व; वरुणेत्यभिशस्तकम् = वरुण + इति + अभिशस्तकम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana: mantra-prayoga sections for śuddhi and rakṣā; Agni Purana: Varuṇa/āpaḥ-related śānti mantras in pūjā-vidhi contexts
FAQs
It gives a specific mantra-prayoga invoking Varuṇa as the supreme purifier, used for ritual cleansing (śuddhi) and protective expiation (prāyaścitta) through the power of satya (truth).
By preserving named, ready-to-use ritual formulae (here, the Abhiśastaka) alongside procedural shuddhi/prāyaścitta material, it functions as a practical manual of mantra application within the Purana’s wide-ranging compendium.
It frames purification and protection as grounded in satya (truth), implying that moral-ritual integrity supports the removal of impurity and the mitigation of blame/accusation (abhiśasta) through Varuṇa’s guardianship.