Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 13
Kūrma-avatāra-varṇana (The Description of the Tortoise Incarnation) — Samudra Manthana and the Reordering of Cosmic Prosperity
तां दृष्ट्वा रूपसम्पन्नां दैत्याः प्रोचुर्विमोहिताः भव भार्यामृतं गृह्य पाययास्मान् वरानने
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā rūpasampannāṃ daityāḥ procurvimohitāḥ bhava bhāryāmṛtaṃ gṛhya pāyayāsmān varānane
તેને રૂપસંપન્ન જોઈ દૈત્યો મોહિત થઈ બોલ્યા—“હે સુમુખી! અમારી પત્ની થા; અમૃત લઈને અમને પિવડાવ।”
Narratorial voice of the Agni Purana (traditionally Agni instructing Vasiṣṭha), reporting the Daityas’ speech
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Shows how moha (delusion) arises from sensory fascination; useful for ethical instruction and for understanding narrative persuasion and desire-driven error.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Daitya-Moha before Mohinī","lookup_keywords":["Mohini beauty","Daitya delusion","amrita request","moha","vara-anana"],"quick_summary":"The Daityas, captivated by Mohinī’s beauty, request marriage and ask her to administer amṛta—revealing how desire clouds judgment and enables dharmic reversal."}
Alamkara Type: Shringara (as narrative catalyst)
Concept: Kāma-induced moha leads to adharma and loss of discernment (viveka).
Application: Cultivate restraint and discrimination in decision-making; do not entrust vital resources to those who exploit fascination or flattery.
Khanda Section: Avataras / Amrita-Manthana (Samudra-manthana narrative)
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Type: Mythic gathering place
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Mohinī stands radiant; the Daityas gaze in astonished delusion and plead for marriage and for her to serve them amṛta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Mohini with large expressive eyes and ornate hair, asuras with exaggerated astonished faces, gesture of supplication, rich flat colors, decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Mohini adorned with heavy gold jewelry and halo, daityas kneeling with folded hands, amṛta vessel nearby, gold foil emphasis on ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined facial expressions, subtle shringara mood, Mohini centered with gentle smile, daityas arranged in orderly narrative composition, soft pastel background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court-like scene, Mohini in elegant sari-like drapery, daityas in turbans leaning forward, detailed textiles and jewelry, delicate architecture frame."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kapi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: procurvimohitāḥ → procuḥ vimohitāḥ; bhāryāmṛtam → bhāryā-amṛtam; varānane → vara-ānane.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mohinī episode continuation (distribution to Devas; Rāhu incident)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse narrates the Daityas’ delusion and their demand that the enchanting woman take amrita and serve it to them.
It shows the Purana’s encyclopedic scope by preserving major pan-Puranic mythic history (Samudra-manthana/Mohinī), alongside its many later chapters on ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
It illustrates moha (delusion) arising from desire and attachment to sensory beauty, a recurring moral theme: craving for immortality and pleasure clouds discernment and leads to downfall.