Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 29
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
स सृष्ट्वा मनसा दक्षः पश्चादसृजत स्त्रियः ददौ स दश धर्माय कश्यपाय त्रयोदश
sa sṛṣṭvā manasā dakṣaḥ paścādasṛjata striyaḥ dadau sa daśa dharmāya kaśyapāya trayodaśa
Having first created by his mind, Dakṣa thereafter brought forth women; he gave ten daughters to Dharma and thirteen to Kaśyapa.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic genealogy to Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s usual frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Explains progenitor-creation sequence (mental creation then women) and marriage-allocation of daughters to Dharma and Kaśyapa—used to map dharmic kinship networks in puranic cosmology.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Dakṣa’s creation: mānasa-sarga; daughters given to Dharma and Kaśyapa","lookup_keywords":["Dakṣa","mānasa-sṛṣṭi","Dharma","Kaśyapa","Dakṣa-daughters"],"quick_summary":"Dakṣa first creates by mind, then produces women and distributes daughters to Dharma and Kaśyapa, establishing the relational framework for later divine and natural lineages."}
Alamkara Type: Saṅkhyā (numerical statement)
Concept: Mānasa-sarga (creation by mind) preceding gross social/biological propagation; dharmic structuring through sanctioned unions.
Application: Understand puranic cosmology as layered: ideational origination → embodied generation → social distribution of roles/lineages.
Khanda Section: Sarga / Prajāpati-śṛṣṭi (Cosmogony and genealogical creation)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Dakṣa seated in a creator’s posture, a thought-born emanation indicated by a luminous aura from the head, followed by a procession of daughters; Dharma and Kaśyapa receive groups of brides marked by numbers (10 and 13).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Dakṣa with radiant head-aura signifying mānasa-sarga, daughters in two grouped lines, Dharma and Kaśyapa as dignified recipients, strong outlines and symbolic number motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Dakṣa central with gold halo, two flanking figures labeled Dharma and Kaśyapa, daughters adorned with gold jewelry, decorative numerals or lotus clusters (10, 13) as symbolic markers.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic grouping: ten daughters to Dharma on one side, thirteen to Kaśyapa on the other, Dakṣa above, fine linework and gentle colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly distribution scene with refined textiles, Dakṣa as patriarch, two receiving sages, daughters in elegant attire, subtle numbering via grouped attendants or floral emblems."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: paścād-asṛjat = paścāt + asṛjat.
Related Themes: Agni Purana genealogical lists of Dakṣa’s daughters and their husbands (adjacent sarga material)
FAQs
This verse conveys genealogical-cosmological knowledge (sarga-vidyā): the sequence of mental creation (mānasa-sṛṣṭi) followed by producing daughters and establishing progeny-lines through marriage to Dharma and Kaśyapa.
It functions as a compact data-point in the Purāṇic ‘catalog’ of creation and lineages—mapping how cosmic order and species/lineages are organized through Prajāpatis, which is a foundational reference layer for later dharma, vrata, and ritual contexts.
By linking progeny to Dharma and Kaśyapa, the verse frames creation as ordered and dharma-governed; it implies that social and cosmic continuity arises through righteous lineage and sanctioned unions, reinforcing dharmic order as spiritually sustaining.