Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 11
Sāma-vidhāna
Procedure of the Sāman Hymns
पथि देवव्रतञ्जप्त्वा भयेभ्यो विप्रमुच्यते यदिन्द्रो मुनये त्वेति हुतं सौभाग्यवर्धनं इन्द्रेण दत्तमित्येतत् सर्वबाधाविनाशनं इमा देवीति मन्त्रश् च सर्वशान्तिकरः परः
pathi devavratañjaptvā bhayebhyo vipramucyate yadindro munaye tveti hutaṃ saubhāgyavardhanaṃ indreṇa dattamityetat sarvabādhāvināśanaṃ imā devīti mantraś ca sarvaśāntikaraḥ paraḥ
行旅途中诵念名为「Devavrata」之真言者，能彻底解脱诸怖畏。以「yad indro munaye tvā iti」之句而献供（火供）者，据说能增长吉祥福运。真言「indreṇa dattam」能摧灭一切障恼；真言「imā devīḥ」则最为殊胜，能成就普遍安宁与息灾（śānti）。
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s usual instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Travel-protection (pathi-raksha), fear-removal, general shanti rites, and fortune-increasing homa using specified Vedic mantra-formulas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pathi-raksha: Devavrata-japa and Shanti-mantras","lookup_keywords":["Devavrata","pathi-japa","yad indro munaye tvā","indreṇa dattam","imā devīḥ"],"quick_summary":"For journeys, Devavrata-japa is prescribed to remove fears; specific homa-formulas are given for saubhagya, obstacle-destruction, and universal pacification (śānti)."}
Concept: Mantra as apotropaic power: fear-removal, bādha-nāśa, and śānti through japa and homa.
Application: Before/while traveling: japa of Devavrata; for rites: offer oblations with the cited formulas for fortune and pacification.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi / Raksha-mantra (Protective chants and appeasement rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler recites protective mantras on a forest road; nearby a small homa-kunda where offerings are made with Indra and Devī formulas, symbolizing fear-removal and universal śānti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-green palette: a Brahmin traveler with japa-mālā on a jungle path, small homa-kunda with flames, Indra suggested in the sky with vajra, a circle of Devīs as protective aura, traditional flat perspective, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf: central homa-kunda and priest offering āhuti, inscriptions of ‘yad indro…’, Indra with vajra above, Devī group motif around, rich red background, heavy jewelry, gold embossing on flames and halos.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style: instructional composition showing traveler-japa on the left and homa procedure on the right, labeled mantra snippets, delicate lines, muted colors, emphasis on ritual implements (sruk, samidh, āhuti).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: caravan on a road with a pandit reciting, a small fire-altar stop, detailed flora and textiles, Indra icon subtly in clouds, fine calligraphy cartouche with mantra names."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: devavratañjaptvā → devavrataṃ + japtvā; yadindro → yat + indraḥ; tveti → tva + iti; dattamityetat → dattam + iti + etat; mantrash ca → mantraḥ + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 260 (Raksha-mantra/Mantra-prayoga section); Agni Purana mantra-vidhi passages on śānti-homa and bādha-nāśa
FAQs
It prescribes specific protective applications: japa of the Devavrata mantra during travel for fear-removal, and homa using an Indra-addressed mantra for increasing good fortune, along with two named mantra-incips for removing obstacles and producing śānti.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual handbook style—cataloguing mantras by use-case (travel protection, prosperity, obstacle-removal, pacification), alongside broader subjects elsewhere, thereby functioning as a compendium of applied religious technologies.
The verse frames mantra-japa and homa as purificatory and protective acts that neutralize fear and affliction (bādhā) while cultivating auspiciousness (saubhāgya) and peace (śānti), aligning one’s journey and circumstances with divine order.