Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 35
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
वसुदेवं देवकीञ्च भक्तविप्रांश् च सोर्च्यत् रेवत्यां बलभद्राच्च यज्ञाते निशठोन्मुकौ
vasudevaṃ devakīñca bhaktaviprāṃś ca sorcyat revatyāṃ balabhadrācca yajñāte niśaṭhonmukau
Il convient de vénérer Vasudeva et Devakī, ainsi que les brāhmaṇa dévoués; et de vénérer Balabhadra avec Revatī—ainsi les deux, Niśaṭha et Unmuka, doivent être reconnus comme nés du sacrifice (yajña).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Household and temple worship: honoring Krishna’s parents, Balabhadra–Revatī, and bhakta-brāhmaṇas as part of Vaiṣṇava pūjā and lineage-remembrance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava Pūjā: Vasudeva–Devakī, Bhakta-brāhmaṇa, Balabhadra–Revatī; Yajña-born Epithets","lookup_keywords":["Vasudeva Devaki puja","Balabhadra Revati worship","bhakta brahmana aradhana","Nishatha Unmuka","yajna-ja"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames a worship-sequence: revere Vasudeva–Devakī, devoted brāhmaṇas, and Balabhadra with Revatī. It also preserves a genealogical/epithet note that Niśaṭha and Unmuka are ‘yajña-born’."}
Concept: Devotion is expressed through proper objects of reverence: deity, divine family-line, and saintly brāhmaṇas.
Application: Include guru/brāhmaṇa-bhakta honoring (satkāra) alongside deity-pūjā; treat lineage narratives as part of dhārmic remembrance.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Krishna-Balarama Charita (Vaishnava Itihasa/Anucharita)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaiṣṇava worship setting: Vasudeva and Devakī honored, devoted brāhmaṇas receiving reverence, and Balabhadra standing with Revatī as a divine couple; a subtle yajña motif indicating ‘yajña-born’ epithets.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Balabhadra with fair complexion and serpent-hood motif, Revatī beside him, Vasudeva–Devakī in royal attire, brāhmaṇas with folded hands, oil-lamp glow, flat decorative background, traditional pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Balabhadra–Revatī with gold foil halos, Vasudeva–Devakī in side panels, brāhmaṇas receiving ārati, ornate arch, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional pūjā tableau: offerings arranged (flowers, lamp, water), priestly brāhmaṇas, labeled divine figures, delicate linework, muted palette, calm devotional ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly devotional scene: Vasudeva–Devakī seated, Balabhadra–Revatī standing, brāhmaṇas honored with gifts, fine textiles, architectural pavilion, detailed faces and borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवकीञ्च = देवकीम् + च; विप्रांश् = विप्रान्; सोर्च्यत् = सः + अर्चयत्; बलभद्राच्च = बलभद्रात् + च; निशठोन्मुकौ = निशठ + उन्मुकौ (द्वन्द्व).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 12 (Krishna–Balarama charita context); Agni Purana sections on pūjā-vidhi and dāna (general ritual chapters)
FAQs
It gives an arcana (worship) instruction: worship Vasudeva, Devakī, devoted brāhmaṇas, and Balabhadra with Revatī—framing devotion and honoring sacred persons as a meritorious practice.
Alongside ritual instruction (who should be worshipped), it preserves purāṇic onomastics and genealogy by naming figures like Niśaṭha and Unmuka and characterizing them as yajña-born—combining liturgy with narrative cataloging.
Honoring divine figures, their associates, and devoted brāhmaṇas is presented as dharmic conduct that accrues puṇya and supports bhakti through remembrance and worship.