Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 3
Chapter 16 — बुद्धाद्यवतारकथनम्
Narration of Buddha and Other Incarnations
मोहयामास दैत्यांस्तांस्त्याजिता वेदधर्मकम् ते च बौद्धा बभूवुर्हि तेभ्योन्ये वेदवर्जिताः
mohayāmāsa daityāṃstāṃstyājitā vedadharmakam te ca bauddhā babhūvurhi tebhyonye vedavarjitāḥ
তেওঁ সেই দৈত্যসকলক মোহিত কৰিলে; তেওঁলোকে বেদাশ্ৰিত ধৰ্ম ত্যাগ কৰিলে। তেওঁলোক সঁচাকৈ বৌদ্ধ হ’ল, আৰু তেওঁলোকৰ পৰা বেদবর্জিত আন লোকো উদ্ভৱ হ’ল।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s primary dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Serves as a purāṇic polemic explaining non-Vedic paths as arising from delusion; used in sectarian boundary-making and in arguments for Veda-prāmāṇya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Veda-dharma-tyāga and Bauddha-utpatti (Moha-prasaṅga)","lookup_keywords":["Veda-dharma","moha","daitya","Bauddha","veda-vajita"],"quick_summary":"States that the daityas were deluded into abandoning Veda-based dharma and became Buddhists; it frames Veda-rejection as the hallmark of the ensuing groups."}
Alamkara Type: Nidāna (causal statement) in compact style
Concept: Veda-prāmāṇya is asserted; abandoning Veda-dharma is portrayed as a result of moha (delusion).
Application: Within this text’s framework: uphold śruti-smṛti grounded practices; evaluate teachings by their alignment with Veda-authority.
Khanda Section: Dharma–Darshana (Pāṣaṇḍa-khaṇḍana / Bauddha-moha-prasaṅga)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic scene: daityas, clouded by delusion, turn away from Vedic rites; a symbolic shift shows them adopting a new identity labeled ‘Bauddha,’ with others branching off as Veda-rejecters.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, allegorical depiction: a dark veil of ‘moha’ descending over daityas, Vedic fire-altar fading in the background, figures turning toward a new teacher silhouette, bold outlines and symbolic color contrast","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, symbolic composition with a central ‘Moha’ figure (personified delusion) and groups turning away from a glowing yajña-kuṇḍa, gold highlights on the altar fading toward the periphery, strong didactic iconography","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional allegory: left side Vedic ritual scene, right side group adopting non-Vedic markers, a translucent mist between them labeled as moha (via visual symbolism), clean lines and readable staging","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative allegory in a garden-court setting: a ritual pavilion on one side, a debating assembly on the other, daityas moving across, subtle smoky wash indicating delusion, fine detail and restrained palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दैत्यांस्तांस्त्याजिता = दैत्यान् तान् त्याजिताः; बभूवुर्हि = बभूवुः हि; तेभ्योन्ये = तेभ्यः अन्ये.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 16.2 (Māyā-moha manifestation); Agni Purāṇa 16.4 (Ārhata/Jaina extension)
FAQs
It conveys a dharma-śāstric principle: abandoning Veda-based dharma is framed as a consequence of delusion, marking a shift into non-Vedic (vedavarjita) systems.
Beyond rituals and sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also catalogs doctrinal categories—Vedic dharma, non-Vedic movements, and polemical narratives—showing its broad coverage of religion, philosophy, and sectarian history as understood in Purāṇic literature.
The verse implies that rejecting Veda-dharma is spiritually perilous because it is associated with moha (bewilderment), which leads beings away from sanctioned dharmic conduct and its merit-bearing results.