Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 25

Nīrājana-vidhiḥ

Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation

Devanagari script

पूजिता राजलिङ्गाश् च कर्तव्या नरहस्तगाः हस्तिनन्तुरगं छत्रं खड्गं चापञ्च दुन्दुभिम्

Transliteration

pūjitā rājaliṅgāś ca kartavyā narahastagāḥ hastinanturagaṃ chatraṃ khaḍgaṃ cāpañca dundubhim

Translation

เครื่องราชลัญจกรพึงได้รับการสักการะโดยชอบ และให้ผู้ติดตามถือไว้ในมือ (ได้แก่:) ช้างและม้า ฉัตรหลวง ดาบ คันธนู และทุณฑุภี (กลองศึก).

Word by Word

• pūjitāḥ: worshipped
• pūjitāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjita (कृदन्त; √pūj धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘राजलिङ्गाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• rāja-liṅgāḥ: royal emblems/insignia
• rāja-liṅgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘राज्ञः लिङ्गानि’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• kartavyāḥ: to be made/done
• kartavyāḥ: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kartavya (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: भाव्य कृदन्त (तव्यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय—‘कर्तव्याः’ = should be made/done

• nara-hasta-gāḥ: carried by men (in the hand)
• nara-hasta-gāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘नरहस्ते गच्छन्ति/स्थिताः’ (carried in men’s hands)

• hastināṃ: of elephants
• hastināṃ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hastin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ

• turagaṃ: horse
• turagaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• chatraṃ: umbrella
• chatraṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• khaḍgaṃ: sword
• khaḍgaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• pañca: five (uncertain here)
• pañca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः/द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial/elliptic); पाठः ‘चापञ्च’ = ‘च + अपि + (पञ्च?)’ इति सन्दिग्धः

• dundubhim: drum
• dundubhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: Kingdom

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजलिङ्गाश् च = राजलिङ्गाः + च; चापञ्च = च + अपि + (पञ्च?) इति पाठसन्देहः; ‘हस्तिनन्तुरगम्’ इत्यत्र पदच्छेदः सम्भाव्यः: हस्तिनाम् + तु + तुरगम् (edition spacing issue).

Characters & Entities

• Raja-linga (royal insignia)
• Chatra (royal parasol)
• Khaḍga (sword)
• Cāpa (bow)
• Dundubhi (war-drum)
• Hasti (elephant)
• Turaga (horse)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It prescribes the ceremonial protocol for honoring and physically bearing the king’s official insignia in public or court contexts (procession/royal display).

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogues practical governance details—here, the concrete list of royal emblems and how they are handled—showing its coverage of polity and court culture.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By treating kingship as a dharmic institution, honoring royal insignia is framed as upholding social order (dharma) and auspiciousness, reinforcing legitimacy and harmony in the realm.