Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 78
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
प्राणान्तिके भये प्राप्ते क्षिप्रमायुस्तु विन्दति प्रावेयामित्यृचमेकां जपेच्च मनसा निशि
prāṇāntike bhaye prāpte kṣipramāyustu vindati prāveyāmityṛcamekāṃ japecca manasā niśi
เมื่อเกิดความหวาดกลัวถึงขั้นคุกคามชีวิต ย่อมได้อายุคืนมาโดยเร็ว; ในเวลากลางคืนพึงภาวนาในใจด้วยฤคบทเดียวที่ขึ้นต้นว่า “prāveyām …”
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Emergency protective japa (āpad-japa) for prāṇāntika-bhaya: mental repetition at night of a single Ṛg-verse ‘prāveyām…’ to regain/secure lifespan.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āpad (Emergency) Night Manasa-Japa of ‘Prāveyām…’ for Life-threatening Fear","lookup_keywords":["prāṇāntika bhaya","manasa japa","night","prāveyām","āyuḥ"],"quick_summary":"In acute danger, perform nocturnal mental japa of the specified Ṛg-verse; the practice is framed as quickly restoring steadiness and ‘āyuḥ’ (lifespan/protection)."}
Concept: Manasa-japa as immediate refuge: when external ritual is impossible, inward repetition becomes the swift protective means.
Application: In crisis (accident risk, severe fear, sudden illness), stabilize breath, keep attention on the mantra mentally (without voice), and maintain wakeful composure through the night as feasible.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi (Protective rites and emergency japa)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A night scene: a person in danger or intense fear sits upright, eyes half-closed, performing silent mental japa; a dim lamp and protective sacred thread/mālā nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, nocturnal interior with oil lamp, devotee seated in yogic posture doing manasa-japa, deep indigo background, stylized shadows, protective aura motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, night vigil with lamp rendered in gold highlights, devotee with serene yet intense expression, ornate border, subtle gold aura signifying regained āyuḥ.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional night-japa scene: posture, closed lips indicating mental recitation, calm breath, minimal objects (lamp, mālā), clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, moonlit chamber with lattice window, figure seated in contemplation, delicate lamp glow, fine textile details, subdued palette emphasizing night practice."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kṣipramāyustu → kṣipram āyuḥ tu; prāveyāmityṛcamekāṃ → prāveyām iti ṛcam ekām; japecca → japet ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 258 (protective rites; emergency mantra applications)
FAQs
It teaches an emergency mantra-prayoga: in a life-threatening situation, perform night-time mānasa-japa of a specified Ṛgvedic ṛc (identified by its opening words “prāveyām…”) to secure longevity.
Alongside theology and narrative, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical, application-based ritual technology—here, a concise field-instruction for crisis protection (rakṣā) and extension of lifespan (āyuḥ), reflecting its compendium style.
Mental repetition of a Vedic ṛc is treated as a purifying, protective act; done with focus at night, it is presented as generating protective merit (puṇya) and warding off imminent harm, resulting in preservation or restoration of āyuḥ.