Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 5
Kūrma-avatāra-varṇana (The Description of the Tortoise Incarnation) — Samudra Manthana and the Reordering of Cosmic Prosperity
तकपाठः संश्रुतं पापनाशनमिति ख, ग, घ चिह्नितपुस्तकत्रयपाठः सुरा क्षीराब्धिगमिति ग, घ, चिह्नितपुस्त्कद्वयपाठः सन्धिं कुरुत चासुररिति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः भाजो हि करिष्यामि इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा तु वासुकिम् क्षीराब्धिं मत्सहायेन निर्मथध्वमतन्द्रिताः
takapāṭhaḥ saṃśrutaṃ pāpanāśanamiti kha, ga, gha cihnitapustakatrayapāṭhaḥ surā kṣīrābdhigamiti ga, gha, cihnitapustkadvayapāṭhaḥ sandhiṃ kuruta cāsurariti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ bhājo hi kariṣyāmi iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ manthānaṃ mandaraṃ kṛtvā netraṃ kṛtvā tu vāsukim kṣīrābdhiṃ matsahāyena nirmathadhvamatandritāḥ
(Se anotan variantes textuales en algunos manuscritos.) Luego se da la instrucción: «Tomad el monte Mandara como vara de batido y a Vāsuki como cuerda; con mi auxilio, batid el Océano de Leche sin descanso y sin negligencia».
Lord Agni (narrator, instructive voice within the Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"समुद्रमन्थन-प्रक्रिया का ‘कैसे करें’ निर्देश: साधन-चयन (मन्दर, वासुकि) और सतत परिश्रम।","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"समुद्रमन्थन-विधि: मन्दर-दण्ड, वासुकि-नेत्र, हरि-सहायता","lookup_keywords":["समुद्रमन्थन विधि","मन्दर पर्वत","वासुकि","क्षीराब्धि","मत्सहाय"],"quick_summary":"मन्दर को मन्थान-दण्ड और वासुकि को रज्जु बनाकर, हरि की सहायता से, आलस्य-रहित निरन्तर क्षीरसागर का मन्थन करने का निर्देश है; साथ में पाठान्तर-परम्परा का संकेत भी है।"}
Concept: अतन्द्रा (अप्रमाद) और सतत प्रयास से महान फल की सिद्धि; दैवी-सहायता के साथ पुरुषार्थ।
Application: किसी दीर्घ परियोजना में सही ‘उपकरण-चयन’ और निरन्तरता; प्रमाद-त्याग।
Khanda Section: Puranic Itihasa & Deva-Asura Narratives (Samudra-manthana / Kshira-sagara episode)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"मन्दर पर्वत को मन्थन-दण्ड बनाकर, वासुकि को रज्जु बनाकर, देव-दानव क्षीरसागर का मन्थन करते हैं; हरि की सहायता का संकेत।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, grand Samudra Manthana: Mandara mountain as churning rod, Vasuki as rope, devas and asuras pulling, milky ocean swirling, Vishnu assisting, dynamic curves and bold colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, iconic Samudra Manthana with gold highlights on ornaments, central Mandara, Vasuki rope, Vishnu presence, rich blue-white ocean, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of churning setup: Mandara vertical, Vasuki looped, devas/asuras aligned, labels-like clarity, soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed churning scene with many figures, swirling ocean textures, Mandara mountain, Vasuki serpent, fine linework and layered composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"हंसध्वनि","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: This item contains extensive critical-apparatus prose; analyzed only the metrical instruction line: मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा तु वासुकिम् क्षीराब्धिं मत्सहायेन निर्मथध्वम् अतन्द्रिताः. Resolved: निर्मथध्वमतन्द्रिताः→निर्मथध्वम् अतन्द्रिताः.
Related Themes: अग्निपुराण 3 (समुद्रमन्थन-क्रम)
FAQs
It gives the operational ‘procedure’ of the Samudra-manthana: Mandara is designated as the churning rod, Vāsuki as the rope, and the churning must be done steadily with divine support—an archetypal model for coordinated sacred effort.
Alongside ritual and doctrine, the Agni Purana preserves major cosmological narratives with practical, step-wise instructions; it also records manuscript variants, reflecting a tradition that transmits both mythic content and textual-critical layers.
The emphasis on churning “without negligence” frames disciplined, sustained effort (tapas-like perseverance) as the means to bring forth auspicious results; variant readings also connect the passage with sin-destruction and right distribution (shares), reinforcing dharmic order.