Born in each forest, mighty elephants remember their ancient origins, their strength and wisdom echoing through the ages. May the Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, and the countless hosts of Maruts surround you with their protection. O lord of serpents, safeguard your master faithfully and uphold the sacred agreement, just as Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, rides upon Airavana, his celestial elephant. As Indra himself follows behind, may this king of the gods shield you from all harm. May you achieve victory in every battle and always journey forth in robust health. In the fray, may your strength match that of Airavana. May Soma grant you prosperity, Vishnu bestow upon you might, the Sun illuminate you with brilliance, and the Wind bless you with swiftness. Let the steadfastness of the mountains be yours, the triumph of Rudra, and the renown of Purandara. In the clash of arms, may the elephants and the guardian deities of the directions keep you safe. The Ashvins, together with the melodious Gandharvas, the Manus, Vasus, Rudras, Vayu, Soma, and the venerable sages—may all these divine beings watch over you on every side. Let the hosts of Nagas, Kinnaras, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Bhutas, and the planets lend their protection, as do the Pramathas with the Adityas, and Bhutesha with the divine Mothers. Shakra, Skanda the commander, and Varuna stand as your protectors; may they incinerate all your enemies, so that the king may attain victory. Any ornaments or charms employed by foes, let them fall away, shattered by your own radiance and returned upon those who bear ill will. Just as in the slaying of Kalanemi, the destruction of Tripura, the battle with Hiranyakashipu, and the defeat of all asuras, so now are you adorned—shine forth, remembering your vow. When the blue and white ones are seen, let the hostile kings swiftly perish. Let your adversaries be vanquished in battle by dreadful diseases and weapons, such as Putana, Revati, Lekha, and the fearsome Kalaratri. May all your enemies be speedily consumed, for you are sheltered beneath the banner in the great sacrifice, under the gaze of the god of gods, the trident-bearing Shiva. Remember, you were fashioned by Sharva, the very essence of the world. Recall also the other form of Nandaka, O destroyer of enemies. Dark as the petal of a blue lotus, you are Krishna, dispeller of evil dreams, sword-bearer, sharp-bladed and formidable. Your eight names—Augarbha, Vijaya, Dharmapala, and others—were once declared by the self-born. The constellation Krittika belongs to you, your teacher is the divine Maheshvara. Your body is golden, and Janardana is your deity. Guard the king, his sword, his army, and his city. The father and grandfather are divine; you must always protect them. You are the giver of protection in battle; today, grant me renown among warriors. Shield me, for I am to be protected. O flawless one, I bow before you. You are the drum whose thunderous sound shakes the hearts of enemies; become for the armies of kings the bringer of victory. Just as noble elephants rejoice at the sound of thunderclouds, so let your voice bring us joy and delight. As thunder’s roar strikes fear into the hearts of women, so let your battle-cry make our foes tremble. You must always be worshipped with sacred mantras and invoked in rites of victory. The annual consecration is performed with ghee, a blanket, and in the presence of Vishnu. At this, Pushkara spoke: “The mantras are beneficent to all and fulfill the four aims of life. The total of Rig, Atharva, Sama, and Yajur mantras numbers one hundred thousand. There is one Sankhyayana branch and a second called Ashvalayana; there are a thousand mantras and two thousand Brahmanas. The Rigveda is preserved by tradition, remembered by Dvaipayana and others. The Yajur mantras number just under two thousand. A thousand belong to the Brahmins, and there are eighty-six branches, with names such as Kanva, Madhyandini, Kathi, and Madhyakathi. Maitrayani, Samjna, and Taittiriya are also named, with Vaishampayana and others as their branches in the Yajur. Of the Sama Veda, Kauthuma is one branch, Atharvanayani is another. There are four principal songs and the Aranyakas of the Veda. Uktha, Uha, and the fourth comprise mantras totaling nine thousand, and there are four hundred Brahma collections as remembered. Twenty-five are the measures of the Sama. In the Atharva Veda are Sumantu, Jajali, and Shlokayana, while Shaunaka, Pippalada, and Munjakesha are further branches. Altogether, there are ten thousand sixty mantras and a hundred Upanishads. The blessed Vyasa, in his wisdom, created these divisions and branches. Vishnu is the cause behind the divisions, history, and the Purana. Having received the Purana and other texts from Vyasa, the bard Lomaharshana, along with Sumati, Agnivarcha, Mitrayu, and Shimshapayana, carried on this tradition. Then Kritavrata, also called Savarni, had six disciples, including Shamsapayana and others, who composed the collections of the Puranas. The Puranas, beginning with the Brahma, and the eighteen teachings of Hari, are all found within the great Agni Purana, where Hari abides as the embodiment of knowledge. He is both manifest and unmanifest, with form and formlessness; by knowing, worshipping, and praising him, one attains both the pleasures of life and ultimate liberation. Vishnu is the victorious one, the eternal, taking forms such as Agni and Surya. Through Agni, he becomes the mouth of the gods, and Vishnu is the supreme goal. In the Vedas and Puranas, he is sung as the very embodiment of sacrifice; the Purana called Agneya is his greatest form. Janardana is both the author and the listener of the Agneya Purana; thus, the Agni Purana is great, encompassing all the Vedas.