Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 13
Chapter 275 — द्वादशसङ्ग्रामाः
The Twelve Battles
हिरण्यकशिपोश्चोरो विदार्य च नखैः पुरा नारसिंहो देवपालः प्रह्नादं कृतवान् नृपम्
hiraṇyakaśipoścoro vidārya ca nakhaiḥ purā nārasiṃho devapālaḥ prahnādaṃ kṛtavān nṛpam
قديماً، نَرَسِمْهَا—حامي الآلهة—مزّق هيرانيَكاشيبو، ذلك الطاغية الآثم، بمخالبه، وجعل برهلادا ملكاً.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to Vashistha (contextual attribution)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Teaching righteous kingship and protection of devotees; used in kathā-śravaṇa, festival recitation (Nṛsiṃha-jayantī), and moral instruction on tyranny’s downfall.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Narasimha Avatāra: Hiraṇyakaśipu-vadha and Prahlāda-rājya","lookup_keywords":["Narasimha","Hiraṇyakaśipu","nakha (claws)","Prahlāda","deva-pāla"],"quick_summary":"Narasimha destroys the oppressive Hiraṇyakaśipu with claws and establishes Prahlāda as king—modeling divine protection of bhakti and restoration of dharma in governance."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (divinity embodied as man-lion); Itihāsa-allusion (ākhyāna-saṅkṣepa)
Weapon Type: Natural weapon (nails/claws)
Concept: Bhakti is safeguarded by īśvara; adharma in rulership collapses, while the devotee is elevated to rightful sovereignty.
Application: For leaders: rule without oppression; for practitioners: steadfast devotion under threat, trusting dharma’s eventual restoration.
Khanda Section: Avataras (Vishnu-Narasimha-charita / Puranic Itihasa)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Narasiṃha tears Hiraṇyakaśipu with claws; Prahlāda stands reverently; devas witness the restoration of order.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of Ugra Narasiṃha seated, Hiraṇyakaśipu across the lap, claws extended, Prahlāda in añjali at side, devas in upper corners, bold outlines, warm earth pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore Narasiṃha with gold halo and heavy ornaments, dramatic claws, demon subdued, Prahlāda small but radiant, embossed gold work on jewelry and aureole.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with refined linework: Narasiṃha-līlā central, labeled figures (Prahlāda, Hiraṇyakaśipu), gentle gradients, didactic clarity without excessive gore.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature courtly interior: pillar and threshold setting, Narasiṃha mid-action, attendants recoiling, intricate textiles, fine facial expressions, controlled palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हिरण्यकशिपोश्चोरो = हिरण्यकशिपोः + चोरः (visarga sandhi). Sense: ‘Narasimha… made Prahlāda (into) king’.
Related Themes: Avatāra-kathā sequence in Agni Purāṇa (Viṣṇu-incarnations)
FAQs
No ritual procedure is taught here; the verse conveys a dharmic-historical point: divine intervention removes oppressive adharma and restores rightful rule by enthroning the righteous (Prahlāda).
It exemplifies the Purana’s integration of avatara-itihasa with governance and dharma: cosmic protection (deva-pālana) is linked to political legitimacy (installing a righteous king), showing how theology and rajadharma cohere.
It underscores that devotion and righteousness are protected (Prahlāda), while tyrannical adharma is destroyed (Hiraṇyakaśipu), reinforcing karmic moral order and trust in divine guardianship.