Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 48 — Account of the Hymn to the Twenty-Four Forms
Caturviṁśati-mūrti-stotra-kathana
जितं तत इति ख, ग, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकत्रयपाठः चक्री गद्यथ शङ्ख्यपि इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गदी चक्री शङ्खगदी प्रद्युम्नः पद्मभृत् प्रभुः अनिरुद्धश् चक्रगदी शङ्खी पद्मी च पातु नः
jitaṃ tata iti kha, ga, ṅa, cihnitapustakatrayapāṭhaḥ cakrī gadyatha śaṅkhyapi iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ gadī cakrī śaṅkhagadī pradyumnaḥ padmabhṛt prabhuḥ aniruddhaś cakragadī śaṅkhī padmī ca pātu naḥ
ขอพระประทยุมน์ ผู้เป็นเจ้าและทรงปัทมะ—ทรงคทาและจักร พร้อมทั้งทรงสังข์—ทรงคุ้มครองเรา; และขอพระอนิรุทธะด้วย—ผู้ทรงจักรและคทา ทรงสังข์ และทรงปัทมะ—ทรงปกป้องเรา।
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha) [typical Agni Purana frame]
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Protective invocation completing the vyūha set (Pradyumna, Aniruddha); used as rakṣā-pāṭha and for āvaraṇa/nyāsa in Vaiṣṇava pūjā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Rakṣā-invocation of Vyūhas: Pradyumna and Aniruddha with āyudhas","lookup_keywords":["Pradyumna","Aniruddha","vyuha","protective invocation","shankha chakra gada padma"],"quick_summary":"Calls Pradyumna and Aniruddha as protectors, each identified through emblem-combinations; functions like a concise kavaca segment in pūjā."}
Alamkara Type: Repetition (anuvṛtti) and epithet-stacking
Concept: Completeness of refuge through the four vyūhas—one Lord approached through ordered manifestations for protection and governance of cosmos and self.
Application: Chant as a fourfold protective circuit (dig-bandhana style) mentally placing each vyūha in quarters or around the body.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava stotra / protective invocation of Vyuhas)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pradyumna and Aniruddha depicted as luminous four-armed forms with conch, discus, mace, and lotus; a protective aura encircles the devotee.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two vyūhas with distinct āyudha emphasis, glowing halos, stylized lotus motifs, protective circle around a small devotee figure, traditional mural palette and border patterns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Pradyumna and Aniruddha on lotus thrones, gold foil halos and jewelry, conch/discus/mace/lotus rendered prominently, blessing/protection gesture toward viewer","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean iconographic diagram feel: Pradyumna and Aniruddha with precise hand-positions for each āyudha, soft background wash, fine ornamentation, suitable for instructional poster-like composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, two divine figures in symmetrical composition, jewel-toned palette, delicate rendering of weapons and lotus, protective motif shown as a translucent circle around the supplicant"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रदत्त-पाठे बहवः पाठान्तर-टिप्पण्यः (जितं तत इति.../cakrī gadyatha...) श्लोकाङ्गत्वेन न गृहीताः; अनिरुद्धश् = अनिरुद्धः + (अघोषे) श् (विसर्ग-सन्धिः)
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Puja-vidhi: vyūha-protection sequence (48.7–48.10 context)
FAQs
It teaches a rakṣā-prayoga (protective invocation) by naming specific Vyuhas (Pradyumna and Aniruddha) with their canonical weapons/emblems (cakra, gadā, śaṅkha, padma) to invoke safeguarding.
Alongside diverse subjects, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical material—short, usable protection-verses—while also encoding Vaishnava theology (Vyuha concept) and iconographic standards (emblems held by each form).
Recitation functions as devotion and refuge (śaraṇāgati), aimed at removing obstacles and securing divine protection; the merit is linked to remembering and invoking the Lord’s auspicious forms and attributes.