Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 34
Mantras for the Parasol and Other Royal/Worship Emblems (छत्रादिमन्त्रादयः)
शर्मप्रदस्त्वं समरे वर्मन् सैन्ये यशो ऽद्य मे रक्ष मां रक्षणीयो ऽहन्तवानघ नमो ऽस्तु ते
śarmapradastvaṃ samare varman sainye yaśo 'dya me rakṣa māṃ rakṣaṇīyo 'hantavānagha namo 'stu te
โอ้ วรมัน (เกราะ), ท่านประทานความปลอดภัยในศึก. ในกองทัพวันนี้จงคุ้มครองเกียรติยศของข้าพเจ้า; จงคุ้มครองข้าพเจ้าผู้ควรถูกคุ้มครอง. โอ้ ผู้ไร้มลทิน ผู้สังหารศัตรู—ขอนอบน้อมแด่ท่าน।
Lord Agni (teaching protective/dhanurvedic mantras to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Battlefield safety and armor-consecration: kavaca-stuti for protection, morale, and preservation of reputation (yaśas) within the army.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Kavaca Rakṣā-Mantra for Battle Safety and Yaśas","lookup_keywords":["kavaca","varman","samara","rakṣā","yaśas"],"quick_summary":"A direct prayer to armor as a protective power: grants safety in combat, guards the warrior and his fame, and is sealed with obeisance—usable as pre-battle consecration and during donning of armor."}
Alamkara Type: Stuti with personification (kavaca as agent bestowing śarma)
Weapon Type: Armor (kavaca/varman)
Concept: Rakṣā through śaraṇāgati and disciplined preparation: protection is invoked, but the warrior remains ‘rakṣaṇīya’—responsible for worthy conduct.
Application: Before engagement: consecrate armor with mantra, maintain ethical restraint (anagha), and aim for yaśas through righteous fighting and composure.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Protective Mantras for Armor and Battlefield Safety)
Primary Rasa: Vīra
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Type: Battlefield
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warrior fastening armor before battle; the kavaca is shown as luminous and protective, with the army camp behind; the act of obeisance (namo’stu te) accompanies the arming.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, warrior in ornate varman, priest/mentor reciting kavaca-mantra, glowing protective aura around armor, army tents and banners, strong earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central armored warrior with gold-foil highlights on the kavaca, halo-like radiance, inscription of ‘namo’stu te’, ceremonial pre-battle setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional sequence: donning armor step-by-step with mantra text bands, calm disciplined faces, detailed armor rendering.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, camp scene with attendants buckling armor, fine metalwork detail, banners and horses, subtle luminous effect around the kavaca."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective-martial","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śarmapradastvaṃ = śarma-pradaḥ tvam (visarga sandhi: aḥ + t → as t); yaśo 'dya = yaśaḥ adya (visarga before vowel → o ’); rakṣaṇīyo 'hantavānagha = rakṣaṇīyaḥ ahantavān anagha (visarga before vowel → o ’; ahantavān + anagha in vocative address context); namo 'stu = namaḥ astu (visarga before vowel → o ’).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 268 kavaca/āyudha-mantra passages; Agni Purana dhanurveda chapters on arms and battle conduct
FAQs
It gives a Dhanurvedic rakṣā-invocation addressed to the varman (kavaca/armor), treating armor as a consecrated protective power that safeguards the warrior and his battlefield reputation.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical war-lore: battlefield protection formulas, victory-oriented prayers, and the sacralization of military equipment—showing its coverage of applied martial disciplines (Dhanurveda).
By offering reverence (namo 'stu te) and invoking sinlessness (anagha), the act frames self-defense and victory as dharmically aligned, seeking protection without moral taint and directing success toward honorable fame (yaśas).