Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 20
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
सर्वपापग्रहादिभ्यो याति विष्णोः परं पदं तस्मात् पापे कृते जप्यं स्तोत्रं सर्वाघमर्दनं
sarvapāpagrahādibhyo yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padaṃ tasmāt pāpe kṛte japyaṃ stotraṃ sarvāghamardanaṃ
సర్వ పాపాలు, గ్రహాదిబాధల నుండి విముక్తుడై మనిషి విష్ణువు యొక్క పరమపదాన్ని పొందుతాడు. కాబట్టి పాపం జరిగినప్పుడు ‘సర్వాఘమర్దన’ స్తోత్రాన్ని జపించాలి।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta protocol: when pāpa is incurred, perform japa of the specified stotra (‘Sarvāgha-mardana’) as a remedial act; also frames protection from graha-afflictions through devotional recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Stotra-japa as Prāyaścitta: Sarvāgha-mardana","lookup_keywords":["sarvāgha-mardana","stotra-japa","prāyaścitta","graha-doṣa","viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes stotra-japa as a practical atonement after wrongdoing and as relief from graha-like seizing afflictions, aiming at Viṣṇu’s supreme state."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-nirdeśa (titling) and Hetu (therefore) structure
Concept: Atonement and liberation are linked through disciplined repetition (japa) of a sacred hymn; ‘graha’ is treated as a binding force overcome by devotion.
Application: After ethical lapse: undertake a fixed-count japa (saṅkhyā-niyama) with purity observances, dedicating the act to Viṣṇu and resolving non-repetition.
Khanda Section: Stotra-vidhi & Prāyaścitta (Atonement through Hymns and Japa)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performs japa with a mālā before a Viṣṇu shrine; shadowy ‘graha’ figures loosen their grip and dissolve as light rises toward a celestial ‘parama-pada’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Viṣṇu shrine with oil lamps, devotee seated in japa, dark graha-forms at the margins retreating, strong outlines and earthy pigments, protective aura around the chanter.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Viṣṇu as central icon with gold halo, devotee with rosary below, gold rays striking down graha silhouettes, rich ornamentation and embossed details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional japa scene—mālā, āsana, water pot, calm posture; faint graha symbols (navagraha motifs) fading in the background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate indoor scene with a devotee counting beads, a small Viṣṇu image on a stand, allegorical dark forms outside the window dispersing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvapāpagrahādibhyo resolved as sarva-pāpa-graha-ādibhyaḥ (compound + ablative plural). sarvāghamardanaṃ resolved as sarva-agha-mardanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172.19 (hearing/reciting merit); Agni Purana 172.21 (prāyaścitta + vrata)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical prāyaścitta: reciting (japa) the Sarvāgha-mardana stotra as a remedial ritual after committing sin, aimed at removing pāpa and graha-type afflictions.
Alongside many subjects, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs actionable religious technologies—stotras, japa, and atonement procedures—showing how devotion-based ritual practice functions as a systematic method for purification and protection.
The verse links purification from sin and affliction with attaining Viṣṇu’s supreme abode, framing stotra-japa as both karmic cleansing and a bhakti-based path toward liberation-oriented merit.