Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 8
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
राजा हरिति छ , ख , घ , ज , ञ , ट च पुरोहितमथर्त्विजमिति ख , घ , छ , ज , ट च जुहुयादमूनिति ङ वैष्णवानैन्द्रमन्त्रांस्तु सावित्रीन् वैश्वदैवतान् सौम्यान् स्वस्त्ययनं शर्मायुष्याभयदान्मनून्
rājā hariti cha , kha , gha , ja , ña , ṭa ca purohitamathartvijamiti kha , gha , cha , ja , ṭa ca juhuyādamūniti ṅa vaiṣṇavānaindramantrāṃstu sāvitrīn vaiśvadaivatān saumyān svastyayanaṃ śarmāyuṣyābhayadānmanūn
அரசன் புரோஹிதனையும் ருத்விஜ் யாஜகனையும் நியமித்து, பின்னர் அந்த மந்திரங்களால் ஆஹுதிகளைச் செலுத்த வேண்டும்—வைஷ்ணவமும் ஐந்த்ரமும், சாவித்ரீ, வைஶ்வதேவ, சௌம்ய மந்திரங்கள் மற்றும் ஸ்வஸ்த்யயன சூத்திரங்கள்—இவை நலன் (சர்ம), ஆயுள், அபயம் அளிப்பவை।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of the Agni Purāṇa, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Mantra taxonomy for royal homa: appoint purohita and ṛtvij, then offer oblations with Vaiṣṇava, Aindra, Sāvitrī, Vaiśvadeva, Saumya, and Svastyayana formulas for welfare, longevity, and fearlessness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mantra-groups for royal welfare homa (śarma–āyuṣ–abhaya)","lookup_keywords":["Vaiṣṇava-mantra","Aindra-mantra","Sāvitrī","Vaiśvadeva","Svastyayana"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates mantra-sets used in consecration homa aimed at public welfare, long life, and protection from fear, under proper priestly appointment."}
Concept: Statecraft is supported by ritual technology: correct officiants and correct mantra-sets yield śarma (welfare), āyuṣ (longevity), and abhaya (security).
Application: For institutional ceremonies, define roles (purohita/ṛtvij) and use standardized invocations aligned to desired outcomes (welfare, longevity, protection).
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Purohita-Karma (Royal rites and priestly fire-offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formal homa with the king and appointed priests; scrolls or palm-leaf manuscripts indicating different mantra groups; offerings poured into fire as deities (Viṣṇu, Indra, Savitṛ, Soma, Viśvedevas) are symbolically represented above as subtle emblems.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa scene with stylized deity emblems in the upper register (chakra for Viṣṇu, vajra for Indra, sun-disc for Savitṛ, crescent for Soma), priests chanting, king offering āhuti, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central fire altar with gold, king and purohita prominent, deity emblems in gold medallions around, rich ornamentation, emphasis on auspicious svasti inscriptions.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout: six labeled mantra categories around the fire, clean composition, fine lines, calm faces, focus on roles (purohita, ṛtvij) and sequence of offerings.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual with detailed textiles and vessels, attendants holding manuscripts, subtle icon-emblems floating in sky band, precise depiction of ladle and oblations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाठे ‘छ, ख, घ…’ इत्यादि वर्णसूचना/पाठभेद-चिह्नानि; पदविश्लेषणे न गृहीतानि। aindramantrāṃstu = ऐन्द्रमन्त्रान् + तु; juhuyādamūniti = जुहुयात् + अमून् + इति; शर्मायुष्याभयदान्मनून् = शर्मायुष्याभयदान् + मनून् (न् + म → न्म).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mantra-kalpa and homa-vidhi sections; Agni Purana: Svastyayana and śānti-prayoga passages in consecration context
FAQs
It prescribes a royal pacificatory fire-offering (homa) conducted by the purohita and ṛtvij using specific mantra-sets—Vaiṣṇava, Aindra, Sāvitrī, Vaiśvadeva, Saumya, and Svastyayana—to secure welfare, longevity, and protection.
Alongside theology, it preserves practical statecraft ritual protocol—how a king employs priests and standardized mantra-cycles for public and royal well-being—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of governance-linked liturgy (rājadharma + karma-kāṇḍa).
Performing these sanctioned homa-mantras is presented as generating auspicious merit that pacifies obstacles and confers śānti—manifesting as welfare, long life, and fearlessness for the ruler (and by extension, the realm).