Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 2
Bhāratavarṣa (भारतवर्षम्) — Definition, Divisions, Mountains, Peoples, and Rivers
कर्मभूमिरियं स्वर्गमपवर्गं च गच्छतां यस्तु लभेच्छ्राद्धकृतं फलमिति ख , छ , ज च वाराणसी इति ख , ङ , छ , ज च महेन्द्रो मलयः सह्यः शुक्तिमान् हेमपर्वतः
karmabhūmiriyaṃ svargamapavargaṃ ca gacchatāṃ yastu labhecchrāddhakṛtaṃ phalamiti kha , cha , ja ca vārāṇasī iti kha , ṅa , cha , ja ca mahendro malayaḥ sahyaḥ śuktimān hemaparvataḥ
Cette terre est la karmabhūmi, le champ de l’action pour ceux qui vont vers le ciel et aussi vers la délivrance; et c’est ici que l’on peut obtenir le fruit né de l’accomplissement du śrāddha — ainsi lit-on dans certaines recensions. (Ce lieu sacré) est appelé Vārāṇasī — ainsi lit-on dans certaines recensions. Sont encore mentionnées les chaînes de montagnes : Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān et Hemaparvata.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Establishing Bhārata as karmabhūmi where rites like śrāddha yield fruit, and listing sacred geography (Vārāṇasī; major mountain ranges) for pilgrimage orientation.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhārata as Karmabhūmi; Śrāddha-phala; Vārāṇasī and Kulaparvata Mentions","lookup_keywords":["karmabhūmi","apavarga","śrāddha-phala","Vārāṇasī","Mahendra Malaya Sahya"],"quick_summary":"Bhārata is described as the field of action where one attains heaven and liberation, and where śrāddha bears fruit. The verse also preserves recension-variants mentioning Vārāṇasī and names key mountain ranges."}
Concept: Karmabhūmi doctrine: human action (karma) and rites (śrāddha) in Bhārata can lead to svarga and apavarga (mokṣa).
Application: Frame śrāddha and pilgrimage as sādhanā: perform ancestral rites with proper intent and choose sacred locales (kṣetras/tīrthas) to intensify dharmic merit.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred map-like panorama: pilgrims performing śrāddha on river ghats, with Vārāṇasī suggested, and distant mountain ranges named as guardians of the land.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: riverside śrāddha scene with brāhmaṇas and offerings (piṇḍa, tila, water), temple silhouettes, and a stylized horizon of five labeled mountains (Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān, Hemaparvata), warm earthy palette, devotional calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Kāśī ghāṭa with gold-leaf highlights on lamps and halos; central figure offering śrāddha, ornate border, distant mountains rendered as decorative bands with inscriptions, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition—foreground śrāddha procedure tableau (vessel, darbha, piṇḍa), background labeled mountain chain; delicate lines and muted colors, manuscript-like clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed ghat architecture, scholars and householders performing rites, fine textiles; layered landscape with named mountain ridges in the distance, subtle calligraphic labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कर्मभूमिरियं→कर्मभूमिः इयम्; स्वर्गमपवर्गं→स्वर्गम् अपवर्गम्; यस्तु→यः तु; लभेच्छ्राद्धकृतं→लभेत् श्राद्धकृतम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Śrāddha-kalpa chapter (immediately preceding); Agni Purana: Tīrtha-māhātmya passages on kṣetra-prabhāva
FAQs
It links śrāddha (ancestral rite) with specific फल (ritual merit) and situates that merit within tīrtha discourse, implying that sacred locales like Vārāṇasī intensify or guarantee the results of śrāddha.
It combines multiple knowledge domains in one compact unit: karmic theory (karma-bhūmi), soteriology (svarga and apavarga/mokṣa), ritual practice (śrāddha), and geographic cataloging (named tīrthas and mountain ranges).
It frames earthly life as the decisive arena where actions and rites (like śrāddha) generate results that can culminate not only in heavenly reward but also in apavarga—final release—especially when aligned with sacred places and prescribed observances.