Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 12
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
प्रजार्थमृषयोथास्य ममन्थुर्दक्षिणं करं वेणस्य मथितो पाणौ सम्बभूव पृथुर् नृपः
prajārthamṛṣayothāsya mamanthurdakṣiṇaṃ karaṃ veṇasya mathito pāṇau sambabhūva pṛthur nṛpaḥ
ثم من أجل خير الرعية قام الحكماء «بخضّ» يده اليمنى؛ ومن خضّ يد الملك فينا وُلد الملك بريثو.
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic account to sage Vasiṣṭha, per the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Models restorative polity: when kingship fails, sages ‘reconstitute’ righteous sovereignty for praja-hita (public welfare).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Birth of Pṛthu by churning Vena’s right hand","lookup_keywords":["Pṛthu","manthana","dakshina-kara","prajartha","rishi-kriya"],"quick_summary":"For the subjects’ welfare, sages perform a symbolic-ritual ‘churning’ of Vena’s right hand, producing Pṛthu—an archetype of righteous kingship arising from corrective action."}
Alamkara Type: Utpreksha (as-if churning)
Concept: Prajā-hita is the telos of kingship; righteous order can be ritually/socially regenerated after adharma.
Application: Public-interest principle: legitimacy is reconstructed through dharmic means when governance collapses.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma and Genealogical-Puranic Narratives (Kingship, origin-legends, polity)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sages perform a ritual churning of Vena’s right hand; from it emerges Pṛthu, radiant and kingly, signifying dharma reborn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rishis seated in semicircle, hands on Vena’s right arm in a manthana gesture, luminous Pṛthu emerging, stylized flames/auras, saturated colors, sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Pṛthu emerging with golden halo, sages with prayer beads and kuśa, embossed gold highlighting the auspicious right hand, ornate frame, jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, careful depiction of ritual action (manthana), fine lines, soft gradients, instructional clarity with calm faces, Pṛthu’s emergence emphasized","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual scene with attendants and sages, anatomical focus on the right hand, Pṛthu appearing as a small crowned figure, delicate brushwork and landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"wonder-struck","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prajārthamṛṣayo → prajā-artham ṛṣayaḥ; thāsya → atha asya; mamanthur → mamanthuḥ (visarga in pausa).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 18.11 (Vena’s fall); Agni Purana 18.13-18.15 (Pṛthu’s qualities and institutions)
FAQs
It conveys a Purāṇic legitimization motif: sages ‘extract’ a righteous ruler for prajā-hita (public welfare). The ‘churning’ is a symbolic-ritual act indicating sanctioned creation of kingship to restore order.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves political-theory narratives (Rajadharma) explaining how sovereignty is established, corrected, and justified through dharma-oriented mythic history.
The verse frames rulership as dharma-driven service: when a king fails, divine-sage authority restores governance for the merit and protection of the people, emphasizing prajā-rakṣaṇa (guarding subjects) as a sacred duty.