Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 12
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
प्रजार्थमृषयोथास्य ममन्थुर्दक्षिणं करं वेणस्य मथितो पाणौ सम्बभूव पृथुर् नृपः
prajārthamṛṣayothāsya mamanthurdakṣiṇaṃ karaṃ veṇasya mathito pāṇau sambabhūva pṛthur nṛpaḥ
ついで民の安寧のため、聖仙たちはヴェナの右手をあたかも攪拌するように揉みしだいた。ヴェナ王の手の攪拌より、王プリトゥが生まれた。
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic account to sage Vasiṣṭha, per the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Models restorative polity: when kingship fails, sages ‘reconstitute’ righteous sovereignty for praja-hita (public welfare).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Birth of Pṛthu by churning Vena’s right hand","lookup_keywords":["Pṛthu","manthana","dakshina-kara","prajartha","rishi-kriya"],"quick_summary":"For the subjects’ welfare, sages perform a symbolic-ritual ‘churning’ of Vena’s right hand, producing Pṛthu—an archetype of righteous kingship arising from corrective action."}
Alamkara Type: Utpreksha (as-if churning)
Concept: Prajā-hita is the telos of kingship; righteous order can be ritually/socially regenerated after adharma.
Application: Public-interest principle: legitimacy is reconstructed through dharmic means when governance collapses.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma and Genealogical-Puranic Narratives (Kingship, origin-legends, polity)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sages perform a ritual churning of Vena’s right hand; from it emerges Pṛthu, radiant and kingly, signifying dharma reborn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rishis seated in semicircle, hands on Vena’s right arm in a manthana gesture, luminous Pṛthu emerging, stylized flames/auras, saturated colors, sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Pṛthu emerging with golden halo, sages with prayer beads and kuśa, embossed gold highlighting the auspicious right hand, ornate frame, jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, careful depiction of ritual action (manthana), fine lines, soft gradients, instructional clarity with calm faces, Pṛthu’s emergence emphasized","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual scene with attendants and sages, anatomical focus on the right hand, Pṛthu appearing as a small crowned figure, delicate brushwork and landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"wonder-struck","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prajārthamṛṣayo → prajā-artham ṛṣayaḥ; thāsya → atha asya; mamanthur → mamanthuḥ (visarga in pausa).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 18.11 (Vena’s fall); Agni Purana 18.13-18.15 (Pṛthu’s qualities and institutions)
FAQs
It conveys a Purāṇic legitimization motif: sages ‘extract’ a righteous ruler for prajā-hita (public welfare). The ‘churning’ is a symbolic-ritual act indicating sanctioned creation of kingship to restore order.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves political-theory narratives (Rajadharma) explaining how sovereignty is established, corrected, and justified through dharma-oriented mythic history.
The verse frames rulership as dharma-driven service: when a king fails, divine-sage authority restores governance for the merit and protection of the people, emphasizing prajā-rakṣaṇa (guarding subjects) as a sacred duty.