Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 17
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
यमलार्जुनमध्ये ऽगाद् भग्नौ च यमलार्जुनौ परिवृत्तश् च शकटः पादक्षेपात् स्तनार्थिना
yamalārjunamadhye 'gād bhagnau ca yamalārjunau parivṛttaś ca śakaṭaḥ pādakṣepāt stanārthinā
સ્તન માટે આતુર બાળક યમલ અર્જુનોની વચ્ચે ગયો; તેના પગના આઘાતથી શકટ ઊંધું વળી ગયું અને યમલ અર્જુન વૃક્ષો તૂટી પડ્યા।
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Illustrates the motif of divine child’s effortless power and the moral that hidden bondage/curse can be released through divine contact.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śakaṭa-bhañjana and Yamala-arjuna-bheda by the milk-seeking child","lookup_keywords":["Yamala-arjuna","Śakaṭa","pādakṣepa","bāla-līlā","stana-arthin"],"quick_summary":"The infant Kṛṣṇa, seeking milk, kicks and overturns the cart and later breaks the twin arjuna trees by moving between them—showing effortless divine power in childlike acts."}
Alamkara Type: Adbhuta (wonder) via atiśayokti (hyperbolic marvel)
Concept: The Absolute manifests as a child; divine agency works through simple impulses, dissolving karmic bonds (symbolized by breaking/overturning).
Application: Contemplate humility and simplicity in spiritual life; trust that grace can remove entrenched obstacles unexpectedly.
Khanda Section: Krishna-avatara / Bala-lila (Vaishnava Purana Narrative)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vatsalya
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A crawling infant Kṛṣṇa, intent on milk, kicks and overturns a cart; later he moves between two arjuna trees, which crack and fall apart dramatically.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel narrative: left—baby Kṛṣṇa kicking an overturned cart with scattered pots; right—Kṛṣṇa between twin arjuna trees splitting, stylized foliage, bold outlines, dramatic yet devotional","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central child Kṛṣṇa with gold halo, cart toppled with ornaments, twin trees flanking with gold accents, attendants in awe, rich reds and greens, embossed gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, sequential storytelling with clear action: foot-kick overturning cart, then dragging between trees, fine detailing of wood grain and rope, gentle palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic cart and village courtyard, dynamic falling trees with dust clouds, onlookers reacting, meticulous botanical detail, balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मध्ये ऽगाद् → मध्ये अगात्; परिवृत्तश् → परिवृत्तः; पादक्षेपात् → पाद-क्षेपात्
Related Themes: Agni Purana Avatāra-khaṇḍa: Dāmodara and Yamala-arjuna sequence (adjacent)
FAQs
This verse is primarily narrative (avatāra-līlā), conveying devotional theology rather than a ritual or technical vidyā; it highlights the extraordinary power of the divine child through the cart’s overturning and the breaking of the twin arjuna trees.
Alongside its ritual, medical, and scientific sections, the Agni Purana also preserves major avatāra narratives; this verse exemplifies its encyclopedic scope by embedding Vaishnava Krishna-līlā traditions within the same compendium.
The episode underscores divine protection and grace: even an infant’s seemingly simple act becomes a vehicle for removing obstacles and breaking bonds, encouraging bhakti and trust in the avatāra’s liberating power.