Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 2
Kūrma-avatāra-varṇana (The Description of the Tortoise Incarnation) — Samudra Manthana and the Reordering of Cosmic Prosperity
दुर्वाससश् च शापेन निश्रीकाश्चाभवंस्तदा स्तुत्वा क्षीराब्धिगं विष्णुम् ऊचुः पालय चासुरात्
durvāsasaś ca śāpena niśrīkāścābhavaṃstadā stutvā kṣīrābdhigaṃ viṣṇum ūcuḥ pālaya cāsurāt
तब दुर्वासा के शाप से वे श्री (समृद्धि-तेज) से रहित हो गए। क्षीरसागर में स्थित विष्णु की स्तुति करके उन्होंने कहा—“हमें असुरों से भी बचाइए।”
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic episode to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"विपत्ति में स्तुति-शरणागति द्वारा ईश्वर-स्मरण; ‘श्री-क्षय’ को धर्म-चेतावनी मानकर अहंकार/अपराध से बचना।","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"दुर्वासा-शाप, श्री-नाश, और क्षीरसागरस्थ विष्णु-शरणागति","lookup_keywords":["दुर्वासा शाप","श्री-नाश","क्षीरसागर","विष्णु स्तुति","शरणागति"],"quick_summary":"दुर्वासा के शाप से देवता ‘श्री’ से रहित हुए और क्षीरसागर में स्थित विष्णु की स्तुति कर असुरों से रक्षा की याचना करते हैं।"}
Alamkara Type: भावोक्ति
Concept: विपत्ति में ईश्वर-शरणागति और स्तुति; ‘श्री’ का क्षय अधर्म/अपराध का फल हो सकता है।
Application: संकट-काल में स्तोत्र/नामस्मरण, तथा महर्षि/साधु-अपराध से सावधानी।
Khanda Section: Avataras & Deva-Asura Itihasa (Samudra-manthana / Devas seeking refuge)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"श्री-रहित देवगण क्षीरसागर-तट/आकाश में हाथ जोड़कर क्षीरसागर-शायी विष्णु की स्तुति करते हैं।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devas with folded hands before Kshirasagara, Vishnu reclining on serpent in milky ocean, dramatic yet devotional palette, stylized waves","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Vishnu on Ananta in white-blue ocean, devas in prayer, heavy gold work on crowns and ornaments, luminous Sri absence implied by subdued aura","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, balanced composition of praying devas and reclining Vishnu, fine facial expressions of distress, soft colors, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed milky sea with ripples, Vishnu reclining, devas in ornate attire pleading, delicate shading and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"भैरवी","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: निश्रीकाश्चाभवंस्तदा→निश्रीकाः च अभवन् तदा; चासुरात्→च असुरात्.
Related Themes: अग्निपुराण 3 (समुद्रमन्थन-प्रसंग)
FAQs
The verse conveys a practical dharmic principle rather than a ritual manual: when prosperity (Śrī) is lost due to a śāpa (curse), one seeks śaraṇāgati (refuge) through stuti (praise) of Viṣṇu, asking for protection from hostile forces.
It situates the text within major Purāṇic itihāsa (Deva–Asura cycles and Samudra-manthana background), integrating theology (Viṣṇu as protector), ethics (consequences of a curse), and cosmological geography (Kṣīrābdhi) as part of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging compendium.
It emphasizes karma and accountability—loss of Śrī follows from a powerful sage’s curse—and teaches that restoration and safety come through humility, praise, and reliance on divine protection, especially when one’s own strength is diminished.