Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 55
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
हरी रेमेनेकमूर्तो रुक्मिण्यादिभिरीश्वरः पुत्रानुत्पादयामास त्वसंख्यातान् स यादवान् हरिवंशं पठेत् यः स प्राप्तकामो हरिं व्रजेत्
harī remenekamūrto rukmiṇyādibhirīśvaraḥ putrānutpādayāmāsa tvasaṃkhyātān sa yādavān harivaṃśaṃ paṭhet yaḥ sa prāptakāmo hariṃ vrajet
ハリは唯一の主として一つの姿に顕れ、ルクミニーおよび他の王妃たちと神聖なる遊戯を楽しまれ、数え切れぬほどの子ら—すなわちヤーダヴァ族—をもうけられた。『ハリヴァンシャ』を誦する者は願いが成就し、ついにはハリに到達する。
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Harivaṃśa/Harivaṃśa-māhātmya style recitation as a devotional practice for iṣṭa-siddhi (wish-fulfillment) and Hari-prāpti (attainment of Viṣṇu).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Harivaṃśa-pāṭha-phala (Recitation fruit): kāma-siddhi and Hari-prāpti","lookup_keywords":["Harivaṃśa","pāṭha-phala","Rukmiṇī","Yādava-putra","Hari-prāpti"],"quick_summary":"Kṛṣṇa, though one Lord, sports with multiple queens and begets innumerable Yādavas; reciting the Harivaṃśa is taught as a sādhana yielding desired aims and culminating in reaching Hari."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti (hyperbole) in 'asaṅkhyātān putrān' (innumerable sons); also arthāntaranyāsa-like phala-śruti closure
Concept: Śravaṇa/pāṭha as a means (upāya) to iṣṭa-siddhi and ultimate Hari-gati; the Lord’s ekatva despite manifold līlā.
Application: Adopt regular Harivaṃśa recitation (pāṭha) with sankalpa for purification and devotion, treating worldly aims as subordinate to Hari-prāpti.
Khanda Section: Vaishnava Itihasa-Purana (Krishna-Charita / Harivamsha-Mahatmya)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kṛṣṇa as the single sovereign Lord seated in royal splendor, surrounded by Rukmiṇī and other queens; behind them a vast assembly of Yādava sons; a sage/reciter in the foreground chanting Harivaṃśa, suggesting the promised fruit of devotion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: central Kṛṣṇa with dark blue complexion, ornate crown and jewelry, seated on a royal throne; Rukmiṇī and other queens in traditional attire flanking; rows of youthful Yādavas in the background; a seated ṛṣi reciting from palm-leaf manuscript; rich reds/ochres/greens, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: Kṛṣṇa enthroned with prabhāmaṇḍala, heavy gold foil work on crown, ornaments, and arch; Rukmiṇī and queens with gem-studded jewelry; stylized Yādava children/sons arranged symmetrically; a small vignette of a devotee reciting Harivaṃśa at the bottom; deep maroon background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: delicate linework and soft shading; Kṛṣṇa with queens in a palace interior; manuscript-recitation scene clearly shown with palm-leaf and stylus; emphasis on narrative clarity and gentle expressions; muted gold highlights.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly Dvārakā setting with architectural details, patterned textiles; Kṛṣṇa with multiple queens in a durbar-like scene; numerous princes/sons in orderly groups; a learned reciter reading aloud; fine brushwork, naturalistic faces, detailed borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरी→हरिः (visarga restoration); रेमेनेकमूर्तो→रेमे + एकमूर्तः; रुक्मिण्यादिभिरीश्वरः→रुक्मिणी-आदिभिः + ईश्वरः; पुत्रानुत्पादयामास→पुत्रान् + उत्पादयामास; त्वसंख्यातान्→तु + असंख्यातान्; पठेत् यः→पठेत् + यः; हरिं व्रजेत्→हरिम् + व्रजेत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 12 (Harivaṃśa-varṇana); Agni Purana 13 (Bhārata-kathā-prastāva)
FAQs
It teaches a phala-śruti practice: recitation (pāṭha) of the Harivaṃśa is prescribed as a devotional discipline that grants desired aims and culminates in attaining Hari.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also catalogs scriptural merits (māhātmya/phala-śruti) of allied Purāṇic-Itihāsa literature like the Harivaṃśa, showing its broad, compendium-like scope.
It frames Harivaṃśa-recitation as a merit-bearing act that fulfills legitimate desires (kāma-siddhi) and supports liberation-oriented devotion by promising final attainment of Hari.