Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 26
Mantras for the Parasol and Other Royal/Worship Emblems (छत्रादिमन्त्रादयः)
शोभितासि तथैवाद्य शोभस्व समयं स्मर नीलस्वेतामिमान्दृष्ट्वा नश्यन्त्वाशु नृपारयः
śobhitāsi tathaivādya śobhasva samayaṃ smara nīlasvetāmimāndṛṣṭvā naśyantvāśu nṛpārayaḥ
நீ இன்றும் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்டவளே; மேலும் ஒளிர்வாயாக—உறுதியான உடன்பாட்டை நினை. இந்த நீல-வெள்ளை குறியைக் கண்டு அரசனின் பகைவர்கள் விரைவில் அழிவாராக।
Lord Agni (instructing protective/mantric application within a raksha-prayoga context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Protective utterance tied to a visible sign (blue-and-white mark/banner) for rāja-rakṣā and enemy-destruction; used in consecration/warding rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Nīla-śveta-cihna-darśana rāja-rakṣā mantra","lookup_keywords":["raksha-mantra","nila-sveta","cihna-darsana","nrpa-ari-nasha","samaya-smara"],"quick_summary":"A protective formula invoking an adorned, resplendent power and the remembrance of a pledged ‘samaya’; on seeing the blue-and-white sign, the king’s enemies are wished to perish swiftly."}
Alamkara Type: Ājñā/Prārthanā (imperative benediction)
Concept: Samaya-smaraṇa (remembering the vow/compact) empowers protective efficacy; visual symbol + mantra functions as rakṣā.
Application: Deploy a consecrated blue-white emblem (flag/mark) and recite the mantra during royal processions, campaigns, or threshold-warding.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Raksha-mantra (Protective rites and appeasement formulas)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecrated blue-and-white banner/mark displayed before the king; priests recite a protective formula as enemies are symbolically driven away.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, priestly figures with palm-leaf manuscripts, a tall blue-and-white patākā beside a crowned king, protective aura motifs, traditional temple setting, bold contours","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king seated with attendants, prominent blue-and-white banner with gold embellishments, priest in front chanting, heavy gold work and jeweled borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual scene: close-up of the blue-white emblem, priest gesturing in mantra-recitation, neat architectural pavilion, soft colors and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly setting with a royal standard in blue and white, clerics chanting, enemies depicted retreating at the margins, intricate textiles and patterned carpets"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śobhitāsi → śobhitā asi; tathaivādya → tathā eva adya; nīlasvetāmimāndṛṣṭvā → nīla-śvetām imām dṛṣṭvā; naśyantvāśu → naśyantu āśu
Related Themes: Agni Purana rakṣā-mantra and patākā/cihna-related kalpas in the same khanda
FAQs
It gives a raksha-prayoga style injunction: empower/affirm a protective sign (described as blue-and-white) with remembrance of a “samaya” (pledge/condition), so that on being seen it functions as an apotropaic marker for the king—neutralizing enemies.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied ritual technology—protective formulas, signs, and pragmatic royal-security rites—showing how Puranic literature also served as a manual for governance-linked religious practice.
It frames protection as dharmic: the efficacy is tied to truthfulness/keeping “samaya” (a pledged order) and to auspicious ritual visibility, implying that righteous commitment plus sanctioned rite yields purification and protective merit for the ruler’s realm.