Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 12
Vedaśākhā-dikīrtana
Enumeration of the Vedic Branches) and Purāṇa-Vaṃśa (Lineages of Transmission
कृतव्रतोथ सावर्णिः षट्शिष्यास्तस्य चाभवन् शांशपायनादयश् चक्रुः पुराणानान्तु संहिताः
kṛtavratotha sāvarṇiḥ ṣaṭśiṣyāstasya cābhavan śāṃśapāyanādayaś cakruḥ purāṇānāntu saṃhitāḥ
Dann gab es Sāvarṇi, genannt Kṛtavrata. Er hatte sechs Schüler; beginnend mit Śāṃśapāyana stellten sie die Saṃhitās (Rezensionen) der Purāṇas zusammen.
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic transmission to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Explains redaction practice (saṃhitā/recension-making) and disciple-based compilation—useful for understanding textual variants and organizing study curricula.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Purāṇa-Saṃhitā-Karaṇa: Kṛtavrata Sāvarṇi and six disciples","lookup_keywords":["Sāvarṇi","Kṛtavrata","ṣaṭ-śiṣya","saṃhitā","recension"],"quick_summary":"States that Kṛtavrata Sāvarṇi had six disciples who produced Purāṇa saṃhitās. Indicates an editorial stage where teachings were systematized into recensions."}
Concept: Knowledge preservation through structured compilation (saṃhitā) and delegated scholarly labor among disciples.
Application: When encountering multiple Purāṇa readings, interpret them as products of saṃhitā traditions; compare recensions rather than assuming corruption.
Khanda Section: Purana-Samhita & Transmission (Puranic compilation and redaction lineage)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kṛtavrata Sāvarṇi presiding over six disciples who are writing and arranging palm-leaf bundles into labeled saṃhitās.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central sage Kṛtavrata with serene face, six disciples seated in two rows, palm-leaf manuscripts and stylus, stylized manuscript bundles tied with cords, flat decorative āśrama setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf accents on manuscript bundles and halos, Kṛtavrata enthroned on a low seat, six disciples symmetrically composing, ornate borders suggesting sanctity of scripture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine detailing of writing tools, careful depiction of palm-leaf preparation and bundling, calm instructional composition, soft background architecture of a gurukula.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier-like scene with scribes, realistic palm leaves, ink pots, patterned carpets, individualized disciple portraits, marginal illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kṛtavrato-tha → kṛtavrataḥ + utha; ṣaṭśiṣyās-tasya → ṣaṭ + śiṣyāḥ + tasya; cābhavan → ca + abhavan; śāṃśapāyanādayaś → śāṃśapāyana-ādayaḥ; purāṇānāntu → purāṇānām + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 270.11 (Vyāsa → Sūta transmission); Agni Purāṇa 270.13 (Agneya as Mahāpurāṇa/vidyā-scope)
FAQs
It conveys textual-technical knowledge: the disciplic method of preserving and organizing Purāṇic literature through saṃhitās (structured recensions) compiled by named disciples.
Beyond rituals and doctrines, the Agni Purāṇa also records knowledge-systems about how sacred literature is transmitted—naming compilers, lineages, and editorial recensions—functioning like a catalog of cultural and textual history.
By emphasizing faithful compilation and transmission of Purāṇic saṃhitās, the verse highlights dharmic merit in safeguarding sacred knowledge—supporting continuity of teaching, study, and right understanding across generations.