Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 9
Varāhādy-avatāra-varṇana
Description of Varāha and Other Incarnations
तत्ते ऽहं सम्प्रदास्यामि, वामनो बलिमब्रवीत् रोभूदिति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः सुरान् जित्वेति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः सार्धन्तु कण्टकमिति ख, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः हिरण्यकशिपुस्तदेति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः हरिन्ते इति ख, ग, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकत्रयपाठः पदत्रयं हि गुर्वर्थं देहि दास्ये तमब्रवीत्
tatte 'haṃ sampradāsyāmi, vāmano balimabravīt robhūditi gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ surān jitveti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ sārdhantu kaṇṭakamiti kha, gha, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ hiraṇyakaśipustadeti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ harinte iti kha, ga, gha, cihnitapustakatrayapāṭhaḥ padatrayaṃ hi gurvarthaṃ dehi dāsye tamabravīt
বলিয়ে ক’লে—“সেয়া মই নিশ্চয় তোমাক দিম।” তেতিয়া বামনে বলিক ক’লে—“গম্ভীৰ উদ্দেশ্যৰ বাবে মোক তিনিপদ ভূমি দিয়া।” বলিয়ে ক’লে—“দিম।”
Narrator (Agni Purana’s puranic narration) reporting the dialogue of Vāmana and Bali
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Models dana (gift) ethics: a vow once ritually accepted should be honored; also teaches measured asking and the gravity of intention behind a small request.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vāmana’s Three-Pace Request (Tripada-dāna)","lookup_keywords":["Vāmana","Bali","padatraya","dāna","saṅkalpa"],"quick_summary":"Bali accepts Vāmana’s request for three paces, illustrating the binding nature of a promised gift and the narrative setup for Trivikrama’s cosmic stride."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (justificatory statement: ‘for a weighty purpose’)
Concept: Satya and dāna-saṅkalpa: truthfulness and keeping one’s pledged gift even when consequences are great.
Application: In vows/contracts, avoid rash promises; once ritually/ethically committed, uphold integrity and accept outcomes.
Khanda Section: Avataras / Itihasa-Puranic Narratives (Vamana–Bali episode)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bali, seated as a royal donor at a yajña, agrees to Vāmana’s request; Vāmana stands as a small brāhmaṇa mendicant asking for three paces, with priests and ritual vessels nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, ornate jewelry; Bali in royal attire at yajña-śālā, Vāmana as small brāhmaṇa with kamaṇḍalu, priests holding ladles, sacred fire, stylized lotus borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold leaf highlights on crowns and ornaments; central figures Bali offering and Vāmana requesting, rich red-green palette, embossed aureoles, ritual vessels rendered with metallic sheen.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework and soft shading; instructional clarity of dāna gesture—Bali’s extended hand, Vāmana’s three-finger indication, yajña implements neatly arranged.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing and architectural pavilion; courtly yajña scene with attendants, Bali’s jeweled court, Vāmana modestly dressed, subtle expressions emphasizing solemn vow."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatte 'ham = tat + te + aham; balimabravīt = balim + abravīt; gurvartham = guru + artham; tamabravīt = tam + abravīt. Verse contains manuscript-variant notes; analysis focuses on the main readable pādas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 4.10; Agni Purana 4.11
FAQs
It conveys the dharmic protocol of dāna (gift): the donor’s explicit consent and vow, and the recipient’s clearly stated measure/request—here, Vāmana’s request for “three paces.”
Alongside rituals and doctrines, the Agni Purana preserves itihāsa-style narratives that teach applied dharma through exemplars—here, the ethics of gifting, promise-keeping, and divine purpose behind measured requests.
The verse highlights the merit and binding force of a spoken gift-vow (dāna-saṅkalpa): honoring one’s promise, even when the request seems small, becomes spiritually decisive when aligned with a higher (guru) purpose.