Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
अपराजितचक्राद्यैश् चतुर्भिः परमायुधैः अखण्डितानुभावैस्त्वं सर्वदुष्टहरो भव
aparājitacakrādyaiś caturbhiḥ paramāyudhaiḥ akhaṇḍitānubhāvaistvaṃ sarvaduṣṭaharo bhava
అపరాజిత చక్రం మొదలైన నాలుగు పరమాయుధాలతో—అఖండ ప్రభావముగలవిగా—నీవు సమస్త దుష్టతను హరించువాడవై యుండుము।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in protective ritual/mantra usage)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Kavacha-prayoga/ayudha-stotra: invoke Vishnu’s four weapons for protection against evil forces, obstacles, and hostile influences.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ayudha-kavacha: protection by the four supreme weapons","lookup_keywords":["aprajita-chakra","ayudha-stotra","kavacha","raksha","dusta-hara"],"quick_summary":"A protective formula calling upon the invincible discus and the other three divine weapons as unbroken powers to remove all wickedness; used in nyasa, japa, and ritual shielding."}
Alamkara Type: Samasa-bahulya (compact compounds)
Weapon Type: Chakra (discus), Shankha (conch as sonic weapon), Gada (mace), Padma (lotus emblem; also protective symbol)
Concept: Divine attributes (ayudhas) function as powers of protection when invoked with faith and purity; evil is treated as a removable obstruction.
Application: Recite before entering risky spaces, during night travel, before puja, or when feeling psychic/hostile pressure; visualize four weapons forming a protective mandala.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Protective Mantras and Ayudha-stotra / Kavacha-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: Veera
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee encircled by four blazing divine weapons—discus foremost—forming an unbroken protective ring while dark ‘dusta’ figures recoil.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four-armed Vishnu behind the devotee, Sudarshana chakra flaming, shankha, gada, padma radiating; a circular protective aura; demons/evil-eye motifs fleeing; thick outlines, warm ochres and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Vishnu with embossed gold halo, weapons highlighted with gold leaf; devotee at feet; protective aureole as concentric gold rings; evil forces shown as shattered black forms at border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic mandala of four weapons around a seated practitioner; clean symmetry, labeled ayudhas, soft colors, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, night scene with traveler chanting; luminous chakra and other weapons appear as hovering emblems; fine detailing, chiaroscuro, evil figures dissolving into smoke"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अखण्डितानुभावैस्त्वम् = अखण्डितानुभावैः + त्वम् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ऐः + त् → ऐस् + त्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana raksha-mantra/kavacha sections (general); Agni Purana Vishnu-ayudha descriptions (general)
FAQs
It teaches a rakṣā-prayoga (protective invocation): calling upon the four supreme divine weapons—starting with the Aparājita Cakra—as an active force to destroy or dispel duṣṭa (malign beings/energies) during worship or kavacha-style recitation.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied ritual technology—practical mantra-based protection (rakṣā), weapon-invocations (āyudha-stuti), and liturgical commands—showing its scope beyond narrative into operational religious practice.
Invoking undiminished divine power for protection is framed as a purificatory act: it removes harmful influences (duṣṭa) and supports dharmic stability, safeguarding the practitioner’s mind, vow, and ritual efficacy.