Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 39
Adhyaya 120 — भुवनकोषः
Bhuvanakośa: Cosmic Geography and Cosmological Measures
सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीति ज ऋषभो रवेरिति ग , घ , ङ , ज च सरथ इत्य् आदिः, राक्षसैर् इत्यन्तः पाठः झ पुस्तके नास्ति कुन्दाभास्तत्र वाजिन इति क , घ , ङ च क्षणदाचरमिति झ पद्माकरा समुद्भूता पर्वताद्यादिसंयुता ज्योतिर्भुवननद्यद्रिसमुद्रवनकं हरिः
sarvapāpapraṇāśinīti ja ṛṣabho raveriti ga , gha , ṅa , ja ca saratha ity ādiḥ, rākṣasair ityantaḥ pāṭhaḥ jha pustake nāsti kundābhāstatra vājina iti ka , gha , ṅa ca kṣaṇadācaramiti jha padmākarā samudbhūtā parvatādyādisaṃyutā jyotirbhuvananadyadrisamudravanakaṃ hariḥ
Du lac de lotus (Padmākarā) surgit une vaste étendue sacrée, jointe aux montagnes et au reste. Hari (Viṣṇu) y pénètre tout comme le monde lumineux—ses rivières, ses monts, ses océans et ses forêts—et, par cette présence englobante, il devient l’abolisseur de tous les péchés.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Tirtha-mahatmya framing: using cosmographic sacralization (lotus-lake origin, rivers/mountains/oceans/forests) to support pilgrimage, ritual bathing, and sin-removal faith-practice.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Padmākarā-udbhava Bhuvana and Hari’s all-pervasion as pāpa-nāśa","lookup_keywords":["Padmākarā","bhuvanakośa","tīrtha-māhātmya","sarvapāpa-praṇāśinī","Hari vyāpti"],"quick_summary":"The world-expanse arising from the lotus-lake is presented as pervaded by Hari in all its features (rivers, mountains, oceans, forests). This all-pervasion grounds the claim that the sacred expanse destroys sins for the pilgrim/reciter."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (cosmos as Hari’s luminous body) / Viśeṣokti (all features enumerated to intensify pervasion)
Concept: Hari’s immanence in the total cosmos makes sacred geography spiritually efficacious (pāpa-kṣaya).
Application: Pilgrimage, tīrtha-snāna, and recitation with viśvarūpa-bhāvanā (seeing all as Hari) to cultivate purity and restraint.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-mahatmya / Punya-katha (Sacred geography and merit of holy places)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A radiant lotus-lake giving rise to a vast sacred landscape: mountains, rivers, forests, and ocean, all subtly forming the body/aura of Hari as a luminous all-pervading presence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: Padmākarā lotus-lake in the foreground, stylized blue-green rivers and layered hills, dense forest motifs; Vishnu’s luminous presence suggested as a golden aura permeating the landscape, traditional flat perspective, rich mineral colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central lotus-lake with embossed lotus petals; the landscape arranged as a mandala; Vishnu’s pervasion shown via a large faint Vishnu silhouette or halo behind the terrain, heavy gold foil highlights on water, mountain ridges, and lotus outlines.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean linework and soft shading; diagrammatic yet devotional cosmography—rivers, mountains, ocean rings labeled subtly; Vishnu’s radiance as a gentle gradient wash across the whole composition, restrained gold accents.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed naturalistic rivers and wooded hills, fine brushwork; a luminous atmospheric haze indicating Hari’s presence across the terrain; lotus-lake rendered with delicate botanical precision, balanced composition with margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्योतिर्भुवननद्यद्रिसमुद्रवनकं इति पाठे समुच्चयार्थं पदच्छेदः: ज्योतिः + भुवन + नदी + अद्रि + समुद्र + वनकम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 120 (Bhuvanakośa); Agni Purana 121 (Jyotiḥśāstra opening, auspicious/inauspicious governance)
FAQs
It conveys tīrtha/kshetra doctrine: a sacred locale, described through its natural features, is spiritually efficacious because Hari pervades it; contact/association with such a place is understood to remove sin.
It blends sacred geography (rivers, mountains, oceans, forests) with theology (Hari’s pervasion) and merit theory (sin-destruction), illustrating how the Agni Purana catalogs places, cosmographic features, and their religious functions.
The verse frames the sacred landscape as a means of pāpa-kṣaya (diminution of karmic demerit): devotionally recognizing Hari’s presence in the world supports purification and merit.