Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 3
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
सुनीत्यान्तु ध्रुवः पुत्रस्तपस्तेपे स कीर्तये ध्रुवो वर्षसहस्राणि त्रीणि दिव्यानि हे मुने
sunītyāntu dhruvaḥ putrastapastepe sa kīrtaye dhruvo varṣasahasrāṇi trīṇi divyāni he mune
But Dhruva, Sunīti’s son, performed tapas for the sake of glory; O sage, Dhruva continued thus for three thousand divine years.
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Purāṇic discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Model for tapas-based devotion: inspires vrata, japa, and disciplined practice aimed at spiritual attainment and steadfastness (dhruvatva).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Dhruva’s Tapas Duration (Three Thousand Divine Years)","lookup_keywords":["Dhruva","tapas","Suniti","divya varsha","kirtaye"],"quick_summary":"States the extraordinary duration of Dhruva’s austerities, emphasizing sustained discipline as the cause of exalted attainment."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti
Concept: Dīrgha-kāla-abhyāsa (long-term practice) and ekāgratā as the engine of siddhi/vara.
Application: Adopt consistent daily discipline (niyama), accept delayed fruition, and measure progress by steadiness rather than quick results.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Puranic Genealogies (Dhruva-Charitra / Tapas-Glory Narratives)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Young Dhruva, son of Sunīti, performing intense austerities for ages—still, focused, enduring seasons and cosmic time.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, child-ascetic Dhruva standing on one leg in forest-āśrama, matted hair, minimal ornaments, surrounding animals and sages witnessing, stylized seasons circling him to show long duration, bold outlines and flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Dhruva as radiant child-yogi with gold halo, forest shrine setting, gold leaf on sacred tree and ornaments, symbolic ring of time (sun, moon) around him","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined devotional-instructional scene: Dhruva in tapas posture, subtle depiction of passing time via small vignettes of seasons in corners, calm palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest landscape with Dhruva in center, delicate flora/fauna, time-lapse narrative in margins (snow, rain, heat), fine brushwork and naturalistic shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुनीत्यान्तु→सुनीत्या + तु; पुत्रस्तपस्तेपे→पुत्रः + तपः + तेपे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 18 (Dhruva-charitra continuation)
FAQs
This verse conveys the practical discipline of tapas (austerity as a regulated spiritual practice) and introduces the Purāṇic time-measure concept of “divine years” used to quantify long ascetic observances.
By embedding a time-measure (divyāni varṣāṇi) and a model of ascetic practice within a genealogy/legend cycle, it shows how the Agni Purāṇa blends cosmology, chronology, and ethical-spiritual instruction alongside narrative history.
It underscores that sustained tapas—measured across vast spans of sacred time—generates extraordinary merit and renown, presenting Dhruva as a paradigmatic example of karmic elevation through determined spiritual discipline.