Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 10
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
वसूक्तो वसुलोकाय शरशय्यागतः स्थितः उत्तरायणमीक्षंश् च ध्यायन् विष्णुं स्तवन् स्थितः
vasūkto vasulokāya śaraśayyāgataḥ sthitaḥ uttarāyaṇamīkṣaṃś ca dhyāyan viṣṇuṃ stavan sthitaḥ
Loué par des hymnes, il demeura étendu sur le lit de flèches, destiné au monde des Vasu ; et, tournant son regard vers l’Uttarāyaṇa (la marche du soleil vers le nord), il resta inébranlable, méditant sur Viṣṇu et le célébrant.
Lord Agni (narrating in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Models end-of-life sādhanā: maintaining steadiness, timing one’s departure with auspicious solar movement (uttarāyaṇa), and sustaining Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and stuti as a mokṣa-oriented practice.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhīṣma on Śaraśayyā: Uttarāyaṇa Gaze and Viṣṇu-Stuti","lookup_keywords":["śaraśayyā","uttarāyaṇa","Viṣṇu-dhyāna","stuti","Vasu-loka"],"quick_summary":"Bhīṣma, lying on a bed of arrows, waits for uttarāyaṇa while meditating on and praising Viṣṇu—an exemplar of steadfast devotional concentration at death and auspicious timing."}
Alamkara Type: Bhāva (devotional mood depiction)
Concept: Anta-kāla-smaraṇa (remembrance at death) supported by stuti and dhyāna; auspicious kāla (uttarāyaṇa) as a supportive condition for departure.
Application: Cultivate daily Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and stotra recitation so the mind can remain steady at crisis/death; align major vows/rites with sacred calendrical moments when possible.
Khanda Section: Moksha-Dharma / Bhishma-Charita (Uttarayana and Vishnu-smriti at death)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bhīṣma lies composed on a bed of arrows, garlanded or praised by surrounding sages/warriors; his eyes turn toward the northern-moving sun (uttarāyaṇa). A serene Viṣṇu appears in vision or as a small icon above, receiving his hymn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Bhīṣma on śaraśayyā with stylized arrows, calm face, sages and Pāṇḍavas around in reverent poses, sun disc moving northward indicated in upper corner, Viṣṇu in a cloud-vision with conch and discus, rich flat colors and ornate border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Bhīṣma reclining on arrow-bed with gold highlights on arrows and ornaments, Viṣṇu as radiant central/upper deity with embossed gold halo, attendants offering flowers, warm reds and greens, devotional stillness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework: Bhīṣma’s composed posture, clear depiction of uttarāyaṇa sun path as an arc, Viṣṇu iconography precise (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma), soft palette with delicate gold","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate deathbed scene on battlefield edge: Bhīṣma on arrows, figures seated in counsel and reverence, pale winter sun angled northward, a subtle luminous Viṣṇu vision above, fine detailing of textiles and expressions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वसूक्तो = वसु-उक्तः; शरशय्यागतः = शर-शय्या-गतः; उत्तरायणमीक्षंश् च = उत्तरायणम् + ईक्षन् + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana Mokṣa-dharma oriented passages (general); Agni Purana stotra/mantra sections on Viṣṇu (general)
FAQs
It conveys a practical deathbed discipline: remaining steady in mind, focusing on the auspicious Uttarāyaṇa period, and performing Viṣṇu-dhyāna (meditation) and stuti (hymnic praise) as a directed spiritual practice.
Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-oriented guidance—linking cosmology (Vasuloka), sacred time (Uttarāyaṇa), and devotional technique (Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and stava) into a concise instruction on end-of-life spirituality.
The verse emphasizes that steadfast remembrance and praise of Viṣṇu—especially aligned with auspicious sacred time—supports elevated posthumous attainment (such as Vasuloka) and serves as a direct means toward purification and liberation-oriented merit.