Agni Purana — Vyavahara, Shloka 20
Ṛग्विधानम् (Ṛgvidhāna) — Applications of Ṛgvedic Mantras through Japa and Homa
सन्निबद्धो ऽथेति क , ख , ज च अस्तं प्रतिगते सूर्ये द्विषन्तं प्रतिबाधते न वयश्चेति सूक्तानि जपन् शत्रून्नियच्छति
sannibaddho 'theti ka , kha , ja ca astaṃ pratigate sūrye dviṣantaṃ pratibādhate na vayaśceti sūktāni japan śatrūnniyacchati
Khi mặt trời đã lặn, sau khi chuẩn bị đúng nghi thức, nên trì tụng các âm tiết (mantra) “ka, kha, ja”; nhờ đó ngăn chặn và cản trở kẻ thù nghịch. Lại tụng các thánh tụng bắt đầu bằng “na vayaḥ…”, thì chế phục các oán địch.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Apotropaic evening japa using bīja-like syllables and specific sūkta-recitation to obstruct hostile forces and restrain enemies.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śatru-nigraha Japa at Sunset: ‘ka-kha-ja’ and ‘na vayaḥ…’ Sūktas","lookup_keywords":["shatru-nigraha","asta-kala","ka-kha-ja","na vayaḥ sukta","pratibandha"],"quick_summary":"At sunset, after due preparation, recite the syllables ‘ka, kha, ja’ to impede an adversary; repeat the ‘na vayaḥ…’ formulas to restrain enemies."}
Concept: Kāla-viśeṣa (sunset) and mantra-śakti are employed for pratibandha (obstruction) and nigraha (restraint) of hostility.
Application: Use only within dhārmic bounds: defensive protection, de-escalation, and safeguarding household/ritual space at twilight.
Khanda Section: Mantra-prayoga & Shatru-nigraha (Protective/Apotropaic Rites)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At dusk, a prepared practitioner performs japa facing the setting sun, invoking syllables and Vedic formulas to create a protective barrier against an approaching hostile figure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, twilight gradient sky, sādhaka with japa-mālā and ritual seat, subtle protective aura motif, distant shadowy adversary halted at a threshold, temple lamp just lit","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, dramatic sunset disc with gold foil, central figure in ritual posture, ornamental border, symbolic barrier line between practitioner and enemy, rich maroons and blacks","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: setting sun icon, practitioner with mantra syllables inscribed near mouth, enemy figure shown ‘stopped’ with a clear boundary, clean pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace courtyard at dusk, scholar-priest reciting from a folio, guards in background, hostile petitioner restrained at gate, fine architectural detail and soft evening light"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"intense","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sannibaddho 'theti → sannibaddhaḥ + atha + iti; vayaśceti → vayaḥ + ca + iti; śatrūnniyacchati → śatrūn + niyacchati; astaṃ pratigate sūrye taken as locative absolute-like: ‘when the sun has gone to setting’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: mantra-prayoga sections on rakṣā, śānti, and abhichāra distinctions; Agni Purana: sandhyā-related observances (twilight discipline)
FAQs
It prescribes an after-sunset mantra-japa practice using specific syllables (“ka, kha, ja”) and suktas beginning with “na vayaḥ …” as a ritual countermeasure to obstruct and restrain enemies.
Alongside theology and mythology, the Agni Purana catalogs applied ritual technologies—timing (sunset), specific recitations, and pragmatic aims (enemy restraint)—showing its breadth as a manual of diverse vidyās and ritual procedures.
The act of disciplined japa at the prescribed time is presented as a dharmic, mantra-based means of protection and control over harmful influences, emphasizing regulated speech (mantra) and ritual order as spiritually efficacious.