Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 6
Granthaprasthāvanā (Preface): Sāra of Knowledge, Twofold Brahman, and the Purpose of Avatāras
अहं शुकश् च पैलाद्या गत्वा वदरिकाश्रमम् व्यासं नत्वा पृष्टवन्तः सो ऽस्मान् सारमथाब्रवीत्
ahaṃ śukaś ca pailādyā gatvā vadarikāśramam vyāsaṃ natvā pṛṣṭavantaḥ so 'smān sāramathābravīt
I, together with Śuka and others such as Paila, went to the hermitage at Badarī; having bowed to Vyāsa and questioned him, he then expounded to us the essential summary of the teaching.
Suta (frame-narrator) recounting the approach of Vyasa by his disciples
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Establishes the pramāṇa (authority) chain for study: approach a competent guru, offer reverence, ask focused questions, and receive a sāra (essence) summary before detailed exposition.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Badarīkāśrama-gamana and Vyāsa-upasatti (approach to the teacher)","lookup_keywords":["Badarīkāśrama","Vyāsa","Śuka","Paila","sāra (essence)"],"quick_summary":"The verse models Purāṇic pedagogy: disciples travel to a sacred seat of learning, bow to the ācārya, inquire, and receive a concise essence that frames the whole teaching."}
Concept: Śravaṇa–praśna–guru-upasatti as the gateway to brahma-vidyā and Purāṇic knowledge.
Application: Adopt disciplined learning: humility, inquiry, and receiving a structured summary before elaboration.
Khanda Section: Purana-Samvada / Grantha-Prastavana (Frame Narrative: Vyasa–Shishya Dialogue)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A group of sages led by the narrator, with Śuka and Paila, arrive at the Himalayan Badarī hermitage; they bow to seated Vyāsa, then ask questions as he begins a concise teaching.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, lush green Himalayan grove with Badarī trees, Vyāsa seated on a kuśa mat under a thatched āśrama canopy, Śuka and Paila in saffron robes with matted hair offering namaskāra, flat vibrant colors, ornate borders, sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Vyāsa with halo and gold leaf embellishments, disciples kneeling with folded hands, stylized āśrama architecture, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry-like detailing on halos and ornaments, devotional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework showing the hermitage setting, palm-leaf manuscripts near Vyāsa, disciples in attentive posture, soft pastel palette, instructional ambience, minimal gold highlights.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed Himalayan landscape with rocky slopes and trees, Vyāsa on a low dais, disciples approaching in a diagonal procession, fine textiles and naturalistic shading, intimate scholarly court-like scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सो ऽस्मान् = सः + अस्मान् (visarga sandhi); अथाब्रवीत् = अथ + अब्रवीत् (vowel sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 1.7-1.10 (frame dialogue and māhātmya)
FAQs
This verse does not present a specific ritual technique; it establishes the knowledge-transmission setting where Vyāsa gives a concise “sāra” (essential compendium) to his inquiring disciples.
By foregrounding a “summary of the essence” taught by Vyāsa, it frames the text as a compendium-style Purāṇa—structured to deliver condensed, wide-ranging instruction across many disciplines later in the work.
It emphasizes the classical path of humility and inquiry—bowing to the guru and asking questions—presented as the proper means to receive purifying, authoritative knowledge (śāstra-sāra).