Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 22
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
इन्द्रोत्सवस्तु तुष्टेन भूयः कृष्णेन कारितः रथस्थो मथुराञ्चागात् कंसोक्ताक्रूरसंस्तुतः
indrotsavastu tuṣṭena bhūyaḥ kṛṣṇena kāritaḥ rathastho mathurāñcāgāt kaṃsoktākrūrasaṃstutaḥ
परन्तु प्रसन्न कृष्ण ने फिर से शक्रोत्सव करवाया; फिर रथ पर चढ़कर वह मथुरा गया—कंस की आज्ञा से और अक्रूर के स्तुतिगान सहित।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s usual dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Shows reconciliation and social harmony: after correcting Indra’s pride, Kṛṣṇa permits the festival again—teaching calibrated reform rather than permanent rupture.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Indrotsava punar-anujñā; Kṛṣṇa’s journey to Mathurā with Akrūra","lookup_keywords":["Indrotsava","Akrūra","Mathurā-yātrā","Kaṁsa-ājñā","ratha"],"quick_summary":"Kṛṣṇa allows the Indra-festival again when appropriate, then departs for Mathurā on Kaṁsa’s summons with Akrūra—marking the transition from Vraja-līlā to Mathurā events."}
Concept: Yukti in dharma: reform is context-sensitive; after pride is corrected, social rites may be restored without surrendering truth.
Application: When correcting institutions, aim for restoration of balance and community cohesion once the underlying harm is addressed.
Khanda Section: Avatara-Charita (Krishna-Katha / Vaishnava Narrative)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom/City route
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A festive Vraja scene where Indra’s festival is resumed under Kṛṣṇa’s approval, followed by Kṛṣṇa boarding a chariot with Akrūra and departing toward Mathurā under Kaṁsa’s command.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-register composition: upper register with Indrotsava decorations and offerings, lower register with Kṛṣṇa and Akrūra on a chariot leaving Vraja, stylized trees and village huts, warm reds and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Kṛṣṇa seated on ornate chariot with gold embellishments, Akrūra as charioteer in reverent posture, distant festival lamps and banners, heavy gold work on jewelry and chariot details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed chariot mechanics and harness, Akrūra praising Kṛṣṇa, villagers watching with mixed joy and sadness, soft pastel palette and precise outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling road to Mathurā with attendants, chariot in motion, architectural hints of Mathurā in the distance, fine facial expressions and textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: indrotsavastu = indra-utsavaḥ tu; mathurāñcāgāt = mathurām ca agāt; kaṃsoktākrūrasaṃstutaḥ = kaṃsa-ukta-akrūra-saṃstutaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Krishna-Charita: Kaṁsa episode sequence leading to Mathurā combats (following verses 12.23–12.24)
FAQs
It references the performance of Indrotsava (Indra’s festival), indicating the Purāṇic practice of calendrical/communal festivals as part of dharmic observance, though the verse itself is primarily narrative rather than a step-by-step ritual manual.
Alongside technical chapters (ritual, polity, medicine, etc.), the Agni Purāṇa preserves Itihāsa-Purāṇa narrative material—here, Kṛṣṇa’s departure for Mathurā under Kaṁsa’s scheme—showing its breadth across both doctrine/practice and sacred history.
By portraying Kṛṣṇa as approving and arranging a major festival and then proceeding toward a destined confrontation, the verse frames dharmic celebration and divine-lila as auspicious acts that uphold social-religious order and lead toward the removal of adharma (Kaṁsa).