Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 23
Chapter 275 — द्वादशसङ्ग्रामाः
The Twelve Battles
हालाहलं विषं दैत्यं निराकृत्य महेश्वरात् भयं निर्णाशयामास देवानां मधुसूदनः
hālāhalaṃ viṣaṃ daityaṃ nirākṛtya maheśvarāt bhayaṃ nirṇāśayāmāsa devānāṃ madhusūdanaḥ
Nachdem Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu) das dämonische Hālāhala-Gift abgewehrt hatte, vernichtete er gänzlich die Furcht der Götter, die im Zusammenhang mit Maheśvara (Śiva) entstanden war.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Used to explain divine intervention in cosmic crises (poison/chaos motifs) and to cultivate trust that fear is dispelled by dharma-protecting divinity.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Warding off Hālāhala and removing the gods’ fear","lookup_keywords":["Hālāhala","viṣa","Madhusūdana","deva-bhaya","Maheśvara"],"quick_summary":"The verse links the Hālāhala poison crisis to Viṣṇu’s protective role, emphasizing fear-removal and cosmic safeguarding in relation to Śiva’s sphere."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka/arthāpatti-style mythic compression (poison as demonic threat)
Concept: Śaraṇāgati and divine guardianship: fear dissolves when the cosmos is aligned with dharma and protected by the preserver principle.
Application: Devotional practice: recitation/remembering of Madhusūdana as bhaya-nāśaka (remover of fear) during anxiety or perceived ‘poisonous’ life-crises.
Khanda Section: Avataras and Deva-Asura Episodes (Puranic Itihasa-Narrative)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Cosmic Ocean
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic moment where the terrifying Hālāhala poison is checked; devas regain composure as Madhusūdana stands as protector, with Maheśvara’s presence implied in the background of the episode.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: swirling ocean-churning backdrop, dark Hālāhala fumes rising; Viṣṇu (Madhusūdana) calm and radiant, devas with anxious faces turning to relief; stylized waves, bold contours, ornamental halos.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Viṣṇu with gold halo and rich ornaments, dark poison cloud below subdued; devas in prayer; optional small Śiva motif in background; heavy gold work emphasizing protection.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: delicate rendering of poison as smoky gradient; Viṣṇu in abhaya-mudrā, devas transitioning from fear to calm; soft palette, fine gold highlights.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed ocean scene with churning apparatus hinted; black-blue poison plume; Viṣṇu as luminous figure stabilizing the scene; devas in expressive courtly poses, fine landscape and cloud detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nirṇāśayāmāsa analyzed as perfect periphrastic-like formation in epic/purāṇic usage; madhusūdanaḥ = madhu-sūdanaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Samudra-manthana/Hālāhala-related narration in the same khanda context
FAQs
This verse is primarily itihāsa-purāṇic narrative rather than a procedural vidyā; it conveys the protective function of divine intervention—Viṣṇu’s act of repelling the Hālāhala poison and restoring the devas’ security.
By preserving major pan-Purāṇic episodes (like the Hālāhala poison crisis) alongside other disciplines, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a compendium—integrating theology, cosmological myth, and sectarian harmonization (Viṣṇu–Śiva context) within its broad knowledge-architecture.
The takeaway is śaraṇāgati and divine protection: fear and calamity (symbolized by poison) are overcome through the sustaining power of dharma and the grace of the Lord, restoring cosmic order and the devas’ steadiness.