Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 7
Chapter 172 — “Expiations beginning with the Secret
Rites)” (Rahasya-ādi-prāyaścitta
जगत्यस्मिन्निराधारे मज्जमाने तमस्यधः हस्तावलम्बनं विष्णुं प्रणमामि परात् परं
jagatyasminnirādhāre majjamāne tamasyadhaḥ hastāvalambanaṃ viṣṇuṃ praṇamāmi parāt paraṃ
इस जगत में, जो निराधार है और अंधकार में नीचे डूब रहा है, मैं विष्णु को—हाथ का सहारा, उद्धारक आधार—परात्पर परम को प्रणाम करता हूँ।
Agni (as narrator of Agni Purana) presenting a devotional stuti (hymn) to Vishnu
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Cultivates vairagya and surrender by recognizing worldly instability and taking Vishnu as the sole support (hastavalambana). Used as a protective remembrance in fear, despair, or moral darkness.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vishnu as Hastavalambana in a supportless world","lookup_keywords":["niradhara-jagat","tamas","hastavalambana","parat-para","sharana"],"quick_summary":"Portrays the world as sinking into darkness without true support, and Vishnu as the saving handhold beyond all. Practical takeaway: in crisis, take refuge through immediate namaskara and remembrance, restoring direction and courage."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka (world as sinking); Utpreksha (imagined descent into darkness)
Concept: Jagat’s lack of ultimate support (niradhara) and the need for sharanagati; Vishnu as Parat-para, the transcendent ground and rescuer.
Application: When overwhelmed, perform a brief sharanagati: acknowledge instability, bow, mentally ‘take the hand’ of Vishnu via nama-smarana, then act from dharma rather than panic.
Khanda Section: Stotra / Bhakti-yoga (Vishnu-stuti within Purana-narrative)
Primary Rasa: Karuna
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dark, sinking world—figures struggling in a flood of shadow—while Vishnu extends a hand as a firm support; the devotee grasps it in surrender.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic chiaroscuro—tamas as swirling dark waves; Vishnu in luminous blue with golden aura extending a hand; devotees reaching; traditional floral borders and temple-lamp highlights.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Vishnu with large gold halo and raised protective hand; below, a stylized dark ocean of samsara with a devotee being lifted; heavy gold work emphasizing ‘support’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear rescue tableau—Vishnu on a lotus platform, hand extended; sinking world rendered as layered dark gradients; expressive faces; fine linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: allegorical scene—stormy dark landscape with figures slipping; a radiant Vishnu figure on a cloud extending a hand; intricate detailing, restrained gold, and poetic calligraphy panel."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जगति+अस्मिन्→जगत्यस्मिन्; अस्मिन्+निराधारे→अस्मिन्निराधारे; तमसि+अधः→तमस्यधः; हस्त+अवलम्बनम्→हस्तावलम्बनम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 172.3 (Vishnu as vibhu, ananta); Agni Purana 172.6 (pranata-artihara theme)
FAQs
It imparts the practical devotional vidyā of śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): recognizing Viṣṇu as the rescuing “handhold” when the mind/world sinks into tamas (ignorance) and turning to him through praṇāma (reverent surrender).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves concise theological and devotional formulations; this verse exemplifies its bhakti-and-mokṣa strand by summarizing a core soteriological idea—Viṣṇu as the ultimate support and transcendence (parāt param).
The karmic takeaway is that humble surrender and remembrance of Viṣṇu as the supreme refuge counteracts tamas, steadies one from moral/spiritual “falling,” and supports liberation-oriented merit (puṇya) through devotion.