Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 17
Sāma-vidhāna
Procedure of the Sāman Hymns
वैरूप्यस्याष्टकं नित्यं प्रयुञ्जानः श्रियं लभेत् सप्ताष्टकं प्रयुञ्जानः सर्वान् कामानवाप्नुयात् शपन्त्वहन्निति रिपून् नाशयेद्धोमजाप्यतः इन्द्र वनं वनिक् चेतीति घ , ज च अग्ने सौभाग्य इत्य् एतदिति ज त्वमुत्तममितीत्येतद्यशोबुद्धिविवर्धनं
vairūpyasyāṣṭakaṃ nityaṃ prayuñjānaḥ śriyaṃ labhet saptāṣṭakaṃ prayuñjānaḥ sarvān kāmānavāpnuyāt śapantvahanniti ripūn nāśayeddhomajāpyataḥ indra vanaṃ vanik cetīti gha , ja ca agne saubhāgya ity etaditi ja tvamuttamamitītyetadyaśobuddhivivardhanaṃ
వైరూప్య నివారణకు సంబంధించిన ‘అష్టకం’ను నిత్యం ప్రయోగించేవాడు శ్రీ-సంపదను పొందుతాడు. ‘సప్తాష్టకం’ను ప్రయోగించేవాడు అన్ని కోరికలను సాధిస్తాడు. “శపంత్వహన్ …” అనే మంత్రాన్ని జప-హోమాలతో చేయగా శత్రువులు నశిస్తారు. “ఇంద్ర వనం వనిక్ …”, “అగ్నే సౌభాగ్య …”, “త్వముత్తమమ్ …” వంటి పాఠాలు కూడా ఉన్నాయి; వీటిలో చివరిది యశస్సు మరియు బుద్ధిని వృద్ధి చేస్తుందని చెప్పబడింది.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, per the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Regular japa of specified aṣṭaka/saptāṣṭaka for prosperity and wish-fulfilment; homa-japa for śatru-nāśa (enemy-destruction) and for enhancing yaśas and buddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṣṭaka/Saptāṣṭaka prayogas for śrī, kāma-siddhi, śatru-nāśa, yaśas-buddhi","lookup_keywords":["vairūpya-aṣṭaka","saptāṣṭaka","śatru-nāśa","homa-japa","yaśas-buddhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse catalogs mantra-sets: one for removing deformity-related inauspiciousness and gaining prosperity, one for fulfilling desires, one for destroying enemies via homa-japa, and others for luck, fame, and intelligence."}
Concept: Mantra as applied knowledge: specific textual units (aṣṭaka) mapped to specific results (phala).
Application: Choose mantra-set by goal (śrī/kāma/śatru-nāśa/yaśas-buddhi); maintain nitya-abhyāsa (regularity) and pair with homa where prescribed.
Khanda Section: Mantra-japa and Homa-vidhi (Protective chants, prosperity rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual manual-like scene showing a practitioner reciting aṣṭaka verses, then performing homa for enemy-destruction; separate panels indicate prosperity, wish-fulfilment, and fame/intelligence outcomes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, multi-panel narrative: left—japa with rosary and palm-leaf; center—homa with offerings; right—symbolic enemies dissolving into smoke; captions for aṣṭaka/saptāṣṭaka, ornate floral borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, triptych composition with gold-leaf flames and haloed Agni; prosperity symbols (lotus, coins) and a scholar’s book for buddhi; mantra bands in stylized script","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic instructional art: labeled ‘aṣṭaka’, ‘saptāṣṭaka’, ‘homa-japa’; calm scholar-priest, neat implements, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly patron commissioning a priest; detailed manuscript folios, small fire-altar, attendants; symbolic depiction of ‘enemies’ as shadowy figures fading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vairūpyasyāṣṭakaṃ → vairūpyasya + aṣṭakam; kāmānavāpnuyāt → kāmān + avāpnuyāt; śapantvahanniti → śapantu + ahan + iti; nāśayeddhomajāpyataḥ → nāśayet + homa-jāpyataḥ; tvamuttamamitītyetadyaśobuddhivivardhanaṃ → tvam + uttamam + iti + etat + yaśaḥ-buddhi-vivardhanam. Several mantra-quote fragments and editorial markers (gha/ja) in the source are omitted as non-lexical.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 260 (protective and prosperity mantra-prayogas)
FAQs
It teaches specific mantra-prayoga: daily japa of an Aṣṭaka for prosperity, japa of a Saptāṣṭaka for fulfillment of desires, and the use of a particular mantra (quoted as “śapantu … ahan”) with homa-japa to neutralize enemies; additional mantra-fragments are noted for fortune and for increasing fame and intellect.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical cataloging style—listing compact, results-oriented ritual applications (phala of japa/homa) alongside named/quoted mantra units (aṣṭaka, saptāṣṭaka), functioning like a handbook of applied religious technology within a broader encyclopedic text.
The verse frames mantra-japa and homa as merit-bearing acts that generate auspicious results—prosperity, wish-fulfillment, protection from hostility, and the cultivation of renown and intellect—implying purification and the strengthening of beneficial karmic outcomes through disciplined ritual practice.