Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 26
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
इन्द्रः प्रमतये प्रादाद्वास्कलाय च संहितां बौध्यादिभ्यो ददौ सोपि चतुर्धा निजसंहितां
indraḥ pramataye prādādvāskalāya ca saṃhitāṃ baudhyādibhyo dadau sopi caturdhā nijasaṃhitāṃ
أعطى إندرا السamhitā (سَمْهِتا) لبرمَتَيَة، وكذلك لفاسكالا؛ ثم إن فاسكالا بدوره نقل سamhitā الخاصة به في أربعة أقسام إلى باودهيا وغيرهم.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Serves as a compact record of śākhā/saṃhitā transmission (guru–śiṣya paramparā), useful for cataloging recension history and for traditional bibliographic mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Ṛg-Saṃhitā transmission: Indra → Pramata/Vāskala → Baudhya etc.","lookup_keywords":["Indra","Pramata","Vāskala","Saṃhitā","Baudhya"],"quick_summary":"Gives a lineage note: Indra transmits a Saṃhitā to Pramata and Vāskala; Vāskala further divides and teaches his Saṃhitā in four parts to Baudhya and others. Practical takeaway: Vedic texts proliferate through authorized lineages and internal subdivision."}
Alamkara Type: Itihasa-parampara (sahitya concept)
Concept: Knowledge is safeguarded by disciplined transmission and structured subdivision; authority flows through recognized teachers.
Application: For students and institutions: emphasize teacher-lineage, accurate copying/recitation, and clear recension identification to prevent textual drift.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vedic textual transmission and Shakha/recension history)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-lineage scene: Indra bestowing a sacred Saṃhitā to Pramata and Vāskala; Vāskala then teaching four subdivided manuscripts to Baudhya and other students.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Indra in celestial court handing palm-leaf manuscripts to two sages, below Vāskala seated as guru with four manuscript bundles before attentive disciples (Baudhya and others), stylized clouds and ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Indra with gold halo presenting a manuscript, sages receiving with añjali, lower register shows Vāskala distributing four scrolls, heavy gold work on manuscripts and jewelry, rich maroon background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, classroom-like gurukula scene with clear fourfold manuscript division, fine linework, soft colors, emphasis on pedagogical transmission and labeled bundles.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, celestial-to-terrestrial split composition: Indra’s court above, scholarly teaching circle below with manuscripts, ink, and palm-leaf bundles, intricate borders and naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रादात् + वास्कलाय → प्रादाद्वास्कलाय; सः + अपि → सोपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: lists of Vyāsa’s disciples and śākhā expansions (adjacent verses)
FAQs
It conveys Veda-vidyā in the form of Saṁhitā-paramparā: how a Vedic Saṁhitā is transmitted through named teachers and how a recension may be arranged or divided (caturdhā) for preservation and teaching.
Beyond ritual and devotion, the Agni Purana catalogs knowledge-systems, including textual history—naming transmitters, recensions (śākhās), and methods of organizing Saṁhitā material—thereby functioning like a compendium of cultural and scholastic memory.
By emphasizing faithful transmission of sacred Saṁhitā knowledge through a lineage, the verse highlights preservation of śruti as a meritorious act (puṇya), supporting dharma through accurate learning, teaching, and continuity of Vedic tradition.