Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 23
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
अपृथग्धर्मचरणास् ते तप्यन्त महत्तपः दशवर्षसहस्राणि समुद्रसलिलेशयाः
apṛthagdharmacaraṇās te tapyanta mahattapaḥ daśavarṣasahasrāṇi samudrasalileśayāḥ
Jene, die das Dharma ohne Abweichung übten, vollzogen große Askese, indem sie zehntausend Jahre in den Wassern des Ozeans lagen.
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Guidance for tapas: steadfast dharma-practice (apṛthag-dharma) and long-duration austerity as a model for vows, discipline, and self-restraint.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ocean-water tapas for ten thousand years (Pracetases’ austerity)","lookup_keywords":["tapas","samudra-salila","daśa-sahasra-varṣa","apṛthag-dharma","vrata"],"quick_summary":"The verse describes extreme austerity: remaining in ocean waters for ten thousand years while maintaining unwavering dharma. It exemplifies tapas as sustained, disciplined practice rather than momentary effort."}
Concept: Tapas requires unwavering dharma and long continuity; endurance and restraint purify and empower.
Application: Adopt sustainable vows (niyama), consistency, and ethical steadiness; interpret the extremity as an idealized benchmark rather than literal prescription for all.
Khanda Section: Tapas and Dharma (Ascetic practice; Puranic ethics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Water-body
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ascetics immersed in ocean water, motionless in meditation for vast years, conveying endurance and serenity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized waves, ten ascetics half-submerged with calm faces, lotus-like stillness, muted blues/greens, ornate border with conch and wave motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ascetics in ocean with gold highlights on water ripples and halos, devotional stillness, rich background with stylized sea creatures subdued.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean meditative composition, gentle wave patterns, emphasis on posture and breath-control cues, fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic seascape, ascetics in disciplined poses amid detailed waves, distant horizon, subtle atmospheric perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: apṛthagdharmacaraṇās = a + pṛthak + dharma + caraṇāḥ (bahuvrīhi); mahattapaḥ = mahat + tapaḥ; samudrasalileśayāḥ = samudra-salila-śayāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: vrata/tapas discussions; Agni Purana: Prajāpati/Pracetases narrative continuation
FAQs
It highlights a specific ascetic discipline: sustained tapas through immersion/reclining in ocean-water, framed as unwavering dharma-practice rather than a standalone ritual procedure.
Alongside ritual and doctrinal topics, the Agni Purana catalogs exemplary modes of conduct—here, extreme asceticism—thus documenting ethical-spiritual disciplines as part of its broad compendium.
Unbroken dharma joined with long-term tapas is presented as exceptionally purifying and merit-generating, indicating high spiritual potency through disciplined endurance.