Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 5
The Creation of Svāyambhuva (Manu) — Bhuvanakośa, Seven Dvīpas, Varṣas, and Lineages
पुष्करं सवनायादादग्नीध्रे ऽदात् सुते शतं जम्बूद्वीपं पिता लक्षं नाभेर्दत्तं हिमाह्वयं
puṣkaraṃ savanāyādādagnīdhre 'dāt sute śataṃ jambūdvīpaṃ pitā lakṣaṃ nābherdattaṃ himāhvayaṃ
À Savanāya il donna Puṣkaradvīpa ; à Agnīdhra il accorda « cent » (mesures). Et à son fils Nābhi, le père concéda Jambūdvīpa—d’une étendue d’« un lakh »—nommée Himāhvaya (« appelée Himā »).
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Supports puranic ‘gazetteer’ reading: links territorial extent/measure and naming (Himahvaya) to dynastic succession for later geographic narration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Pushkara-dvipa allotment; Jambu extent and Himahvaya designation","lookup_keywords":["Pushkaradvipa","Savanaya","Nabhi","Himahvaya","Jambudvipa extent"],"quick_summary":"States Pushkara’s assignment and notes Jambudvipa’s extent and epithet (Himahvaya), tying geography to lineage and measurement."}
Concept: Knowledge as classification by name (saṃjñā) and measure (parimāṇa).
Application: Encourages systematic study: record names, extents, and custodians as the basis for further cosmographic inference.
Khanda Section: Puranic Cosmography & Genealogy (Bhuvana-kośa / Vaṁśānucarita)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Cosmic-Continent (Dvipa)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priyavrata’s court with a scribe marking measures on a scroll; Savanaya receives Pushkara emblem; Nabhi receives a map of Jambudvipa labeled Himahvaya with a mountain motif.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Priyavrata with attendants, palm-leaf scroll showing concentric dvipas, Nabhi holding a map with snowy mountain icon for Himahvaya, strong outlines and earthy reds/greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf scroll and throne, Nabhi with halo holding a jeweled map tablet labeled Himahvaya, Pushkara emblem (lotus-like or island medallion) presented to Savanaya","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic map-board with measurements, neat captions, restrained palette, courtly figures in profile, emphasis on the labeled extent (laksha)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed scribal scene with measuring cord and scroll, princes receiving grants, landscape vignette with snow-capped mountains indicating Himahvaya"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सवनायादाद = सवनाय + अदात्; दादग्नीध्रे = अदात् + अग्नीध्रे; ऽदात् = अदात्; नाभेर्दत्तं = नाभेः + दत्तम्; हिमाह्वयं = हिम + आह्वयम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 107 (dvipa-varsha framework); Agni Purana Bhugola-varnana passages on mountains and varshas in Jambu
FAQs
This verse primarily imparts purāṇic cosmography and dynastic allocation of realms—how specific regions (dvīpas/varṣas) are apportioned to royal heirs, including traditional measures like “śata” and “lakṣa” used to indicate extent.
It adds a structured geographic and genealogical map—linking rulers (Agnīdhra, Nābhi, etc.) to territories (Puṣkara, Jambūdvīpa)—showing the Purāṇa’s encyclopedic scope beyond ritual, extending into sacred geography, political order, and cosmological classification.
By situating kingdoms within a sacred cosmological framework, the verse reinforces dharmic kingship: realms are not merely political property but divinely ordered trusts, and rightful inheritance aligns social order with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).