Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 16
Dānādi-māhātmya — The Glory of Gifts, Manuscript-Donation, and Purāṇic Transmission
चतुर्दशसहस्राणि वाराहं विष्णुणेरितम् भूमौ वराहचरितं मानवस्य प्रवृत्तितः
caturdaśasahasrāṇi vārāhaṃ viṣṇuṇeritam bhūmau varāhacaritaṃ mānavasya pravṛttitaḥ
ચૌદ સહસ્ર (શ્લોકો) ધરાવતું ‘વારાહ’ આખ્યાન/પુરાણ વિષ્ણુ દ્વારા પ્રેરિત છે; પૃથ્વી પર વરાહચરિત્ર માનવીય કથનપરંપરા મુજબ વર્ણવાયું છે।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa frame-dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Use the stated textual extent and attribution to identify/organize Varāha narrative traditions for recitation, study, or cataloguing in purāṇic curricula.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Varāha teaching: extent (14,000) and earthly narration style","lookup_keywords":["Varāha","caturdaśa-sahasra","Viṣṇu-ukta","Varāha-carita","purāṇa-parimāṇa"],"quick_summary":"The Varāha teaching is quantified as fourteen thousand verses/units and attributed to Viṣṇu, presented in an earthbound narrative mode aligned with human storytelling conventions."}
Concept: Purāṇic knowledge is systematized by attribution (speaker) and parimāṇa (extent), enabling transmission and preservation within human pedagogical forms.
Application: For study/recitation programs, use parimāṇa and speaker-attribution to select texts, plan pāraṇa schedules, and maintain manuscript catalogues.
Khanda Section: Avataras and Puranic Cosmology (Varaha-avatara / Varaha-charita)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Type: Cosmic realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu as narrator proclaims the Varāha-carita; scenes of Varāha lifting Earth are implied, with scribes counting verses/folios to indicate the fourteen-thousand extent.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Varāha lifting Bhū-devī from cosmic waters in one panel, and a side panel of sages receiving Viṣṇu’s narration, palm-leaf bundles stacked to suggest textual extent, bold outlines and earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, majestic Varāha with Bhū-devī, gold halo and embossed ornaments; a small inset shows Viṣṇu teaching sages with manuscript bundles labeled ‘14000’, rich gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic split-scene: left—Viṣṇu instructing with manuscript; right—Varāha episode; fine linework, soft shading, clear visual hierarchy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, narrative illustration with caption cartouche noting ‘14000’; Varāha rescuing Earth in stylized waters, scholars and scribes in the margin counting folios, intricate detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇuṇā+īritam → viṣṇuṇeritam.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Avatāra-kathā summaries (Varāha, Vāmana, etc.); Agni Purāṇa: Itihāsa–purāṇa nibandha/catalogue portions
FAQs
This verse conveys textual-structural knowledge: it identifies the Varāha account as a proclaimed teaching of Viṣṇu and notes a traditional verse-count (fourteen thousand), functioning as a cataloging marker rather than a ritual prescription.
By referencing a distinct Varāha-focused corpus and specifying its scope (verse-count and subject), the Agni Purāṇa acts like an index of Purāṇic literature—mapping topics and sources across avatāra narratives and related traditions.
By foregrounding Viṣṇu’s proclamation and the sanctity of Varāha’s deeds on earth, it frames the narrative as authoritative and meritorious to hear/recite, supporting devotion (bhakti) and remembrance of divine intervention for cosmic order.