Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 8
Sāma-vidhāna
Procedure of the Sāman Hymns
सर्पसाम प्रयुञ्जीनो नाप्नुयात् सर्पजम्भयं माद्य त्वा वाद्यतेत्येतद्धुत्वा विप्रः सहस्रशः प्राजापत्या तथा त्वाष्ट्री कौमारी वह्निदेवता मारुद्गणा च गान्धारी शान्तैर् नैरृतकी तथा
sarpasāma prayuñjīno nāpnuyāt sarpajambhayaṃ mādya tvā vādyatetyetaddhutvā vipraḥ sahasraśaḥ prājāpatyā tathā tvāṣṭrī kaumārī vahnidevatā mārudgaṇā ca gāndhārī śāntair nairṛtakī tathā
行持蛇萨曼（Sarpasāman）者，不致遭受蛇所致之灾患。婆罗门将“mādya tvā vādyate”之句投火供养一千遍后，亦应以名为：主生法（Prājāpatyā）、特瓦什特里法（Tvāṣṭrī）、鸠摩利法（Kaumārī，以火神阿耆尼为主尊）、马鲁特众法（Mārudgaṇā）、犍陀罗法（Gāndhārī），以及奈利利提法（Nairṛtakī）等，作息灾供献。
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Serpent-bite/serpent-affliction prevention using Sarpasāman and repeated homa of a specific formula; performing additional named śānti-oblation sets.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sarpasāman Prayoga and Thousandfold Homa for Sarpa-bhaya; Śānti Set (Prājāpatyā etc.)","lookup_keywords":["Sarpasāman","sarpa-jambha","mādya tvā vādyate","sahasra-homa","Prājāpatyā Tvāṣṭrī Kaumārī"],"quick_summary":"Employing the Sarpasāman averts serpent-caused affliction; a thousand oblations with the stated formula and additional śānti-mantras (Prājāpatyā, Tvāṣṭrī, Kaumārī, Mārudgaṇā, Gāndhārī, Nairṛtakī) form a structured protective homa regimen."}
Concept: Mantra efficacy amplified by repetition count (sahasra) and homa; devatā-specific śāntis as a taxonomy of remedial rites.
Application: Use count-based offerings and appropriate śānti categories to address specific feared harms (here, serpents and inauspicious forces like Nairṛta).
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi & Shanti-kalpa (Protective rites, Sama-mantras, and pacificatory oblations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs a thousandfold homa while chanting Sarpasāman; serpents are shown pacified/retreating; named śānti-deities symbolically surround the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: blazing yajña fire, priest in profile chanting, stylized serpents coiled at a distance subdued, faint deity emblems for Prajāpati, Tvaṣṭṛ, Kumāra with Agni, Maruts, Gandhārī, Nairṛta in the background, protective aura.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted homa scene, serpents rendered as ornamental motifs being repelled, small gilded icons for the śānti-deities around the border, rich temple palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical depiction of homa procedure—ladle, ghee, mantra recitation posture—serpent motif at the edge indicating the target affliction, clean instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed fire altar with offerings, priest and assistants counting oblations, serpents near a garden wall withdrawing, atmospheric smoke and fine textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nāpnuyāt → na āpnuyāt; vādyatetyetad → vādyate iti etat; etaddhutvā → etat hutvā; śāntair → śāntaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 260 (Sāman-mantra śānti, rakṣā-homa lists)
FAQs
It teaches a protective Sāman-prayoga (Sarpasāman) against serpent-affliction and prescribes a homa with a specific oblation-formula repeated one thousand times, followed by a sequence of named śānti-mantras (Prājāpatyā, Tvāṣṭrī, Kaumārī, etc.).
It preserves a compact ritual-technology: specialized Vedic chant application (Sāman), quantified repetition (sahasra-homa), and a catalog of pacificatory mantra-sets linked to particular deities—showing the Purana’s manual-like coverage of practical rites alongside theology.
The verse frames mantra and homa as purificatory, harm-averting acts: correct recitation and oblation are presented as dharmic means to neutralize inauspicious forces (snake-harm and calamity) through deity-aligned śānti.