Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 3
Kūrma-avatāra-varṇana (The Description of the Tortoise Incarnation) — Samudra Manthana and the Reordering of Cosmic Prosperity
ब्रह्मादिकान् हरिः प्राह सन्धिं कुर्वन्तु चासुरैः क्षीराब्धिमथनार्थं हि अमृतार्थं श्रिये ऽसुराः
brahmādikān hariḥ prāha sandhiṃ kurvantu cāsuraiḥ kṣīrābdhimathanārthaṃ hi amṛtārthaṃ śriye 'surāḥ
Hari addressed Brahmā and the other gods: “Let a truce be made with the Asuras for the purpose of churning the Ocean of Milk—for amṛta—so that the Asuras, seeking the nectar of immortality, may also obtain Śrī (Lakṣmī).”
Hari (Vishnu) (as quoted within Agni’s narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"सामूहिक लक्ष्य हेतु अस्थायी संधि/समझौता; संसाधन-साझेदारी द्वारा बड़े कार्य (मन्थन) की सिद्धि।","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"अमृतार्थ क्षीराब्धिमथन हेतु देवासुर-संधि का उपदेश","lookup_keywords":["संधि","क्षीराब्धिमथन","अमृत","हरि उपदेश","देवासुर सहयोग"],"quick_summary":"हरि ब्रह्मा आदि देवों को असुरों से संधि करने को कहते हैं ताकि क्षीरसागर-मन्थन से अमृत और श्री की प्राप्ति हो—लक्ष्य-प्रधान कूटनीति का संकेत।"}
Concept: उपाय-प्रधान नीति: महान प्रयोजन हेतु विरोधी से भी संधि।
Application: राजनीति/प्रबंधन में ‘कॉमन-गोल’ के लिए अस्थायी गठबंधन और हित-संतुलन।
Khanda Section: Avataras & Deva-Asura Itihasa (Samudra-manthana / Kshira-sagara episode)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"हरि ब्रह्मा आदि देवों को नीति-वचन देते हैं—असुरों से संधि कर क्षीरसागर-मन्थन का प्रस्ताव।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Vishnu addressing Brahma and devas, gesture of counsel, backdrop of milky ocean, stylized divine assembly, rich outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Vishnu standing with halo, Brahma and devas listening, gold embellishments, symbolic Mandara and Vasuki hinted in background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene of counsel, clear grouping of Vishnu, Brahma, devas, minimal background, elegant pastel tones","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, diplomatic council scene, Vishnu as central figure, Brahma with four heads subtly shown, fine textiles, architectural pavilion near sea"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"केदार","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: चासुरैः→च असुरैः; श्रिये ऽसुराः→श्रिये असुराः.
Related Themes: अग्निपुराण 3 (समुद्रमन्थन-क्रम); अग्निपुराण राजधर्म/नीति-प्रकरण (संधि-भेद)
FAQs
It conveys a practical principle of strategic alliance (sandhi) as a means to accomplish a cosmic objective (kṣīrābdhi-mathana), emphasizing diplomacy and cooperation to secure desired outcomes (amṛta and Śrī).
Alongside ritual and doctrinal material, the Agni Purana preserves itihāsa-style cosmological narratives and statecraft-like motifs (sandhi), showing how mythic events encode governance principles and theological aims within a single compendium.
The verse highlights that even divine goals may require disciplined restraint and non-hostility; choosing truce over conflict supports dharmic order and enables the emergence of auspiciousness (Śrī) and life-sustaining vitality (amṛta).