Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
इन्द्रश् चैवाद्भुतस्तेषां सवनाद्या द्विजोत्तमाः धृतकेत्वादयः पुत्रा ब्रह्मसावर्णिरित्यतः
indraś caivādbhutasteṣāṃ savanādyā dvijottamāḥ dhṛtaketvādayaḥ putrā brahmasāvarṇirityataḥ
ومن بينهم يكون إندرا حقًّا أَدْبْهوتا (Adbhuta). وأفضلُ ذوي الولادتين (الدويجا) من الحكماء يبدؤون بسَفَنا (Savana)، وأبناؤهم يبدؤون بدْهْرِتَكيتو (Dhṛtaketu). ومن هنا فصاعدًا يمضي البيان إلى برهما-سافَرْني (Brahma-Sāvarṇi).
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic cosmological lists)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Clarifies office-holders within a Manvantara (Indra-name, Ṛṣi group, progeny line) for cross-text concordance and traditional teaching recitations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Indra Adbhuta and the Savana Ṛṣi-group; Dhṛtaketu-line sons; transition to Brahma-Sāvarṇi","lookup_keywords":["Adbhuta Indra","Savana ṛṣi","Dhṛtaketu","Brahma-sāvarṇi","manvantara transition"],"quick_summary":"States that the Indra for that epoch is named Adbhuta, the leading sages begin with Savana, and the sons begin with Dhṛtaketu, then moves the narrative forward to Brahma-Sāvarṇi."}
Concept: Names and roles (Indra/Ṛṣi/vaṃśa) function as markers of cosmic epochs; narration proceeds by such markers.
Application: Aids memorization and structured oral transmission of Manvantara catalogues.
Khanda Section: Manvantara and Puranic Genealogies (Cosmic Chronology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A celestial proclamation: a herald points to a tablet naming Indra as Adbhuta; Savana and other Ṛṣis sit in a semicircle; Dhṛtaketu and progeny stand as a lineage group; a banner indicates ‘Brahma-Sāvarṇi onward’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Indra Adbhuta with radiant aura, sages (Savana foremost) seated with palm-leaf manuscripts, Dhṛtaketu lineage standing, decorative caption panels, calm symmetrical composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Indra Adbhuta richly ornamented with gold, sages in orderly row, Dhṛtaketu and sons as attendants, gold-inscribed title cartouche ‘Brahma-Sāvarṇi’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic scene with labeled figures (Adbhuta, Savana, Dhṛtaketu), soft colors, clear spacing like an illustrated manual page.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-chronicle style: Indra Adbhuta on a dais, sages with manuscripts, lineage group presented, marginal note panel indicating transition to Brahma-Sāvarṇi."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caivādbhutaḥ = ca + eva + adbhutaḥ; adbhutasteṣām = adbhutaḥ + teṣām; brahmasāvarṇirityataḥ = brahma-sāvarṇiḥ + iti + ataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: subsequent Brahma-Sāvarṇi and Dharmasāvarṇika listings (same khanda)
FAQs
This verse conveys Purāṇic cosmological enumeration—identifying the Indra, the leading sages (dvijottamas), and the principal line of offspring for a Manvantara, serving as a technical index for Manvantara-chronology.
By cataloguing Manvantara components (Indra, ṛṣi groups, progeny, and the succeeding Manu), it functions like a reference entry within the Agni Purāṇa’s broad compendium of topics, organizing cosmic history alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences.
Remembering and reciting Manvantara lineages is traditionally held to purify the mind through remembrance of cosmic order (ṛta) and to strengthen faith in dharma by situating human history within sacred time.