Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 13
मत्स्यावतारवर्णनम्
The Description of the Matsya Incarnation
सप्तर्षिभिः परिवृतो निशां ब्राह्मीं चरिष्यसि उपस्थितस्य मे शृङ्गे निबध्नीहि महाहिना
saptarṣibhiḥ parivṛto niśāṃ brāhmīṃ cariṣyasi upasthitasya me śṛṅge nibadhnīhi mahāhinā
七人のリシに囲まれて、汝は梵天の夜を渡るであろう。わたしが現前するとき、大蛇をもって（舟を）わが角に結びつけよ。
Lord Agni (narrating in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Pralaya-katha as a dharmic template: preserve śāstra/seed-life through crisis; ritual imagination for recitation and teaching of manvantara cycles.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Matsya’s instruction: Brahmā-night survival and binding the boat to the horn","lookup_keywords":["Brahmī-niśā","saptarṣi","mahāhinā","śṛṅga","nau-bandhana"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames pralaya as ‘Brahmā’s night’ and gives the practical instruction to secure the boat to the divine horn using the great serpent, ensuring safe passage with the Saptarṣis."}
Alamkara Type: Ājñā (imperative instruction) with itihāsa-vṛtta
Concept: Śāstra-rakṣaṇa (preservation of Veda) and surrender to īśvara’s upadeśa during cosmic dissolution.
Application: Use the narrative as a model for crisis-ethics: protect knowledge, keep wise counsel (saptarṣi), follow precise instruction.
Khanda Section: Puranic Narrative (Cosmic Events and Divine Instructions)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Type: Ocean
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Matsya instructs Manu: the Saptarṣis stand around; a great serpent is used to bind the boat to the fish’s horn as the Brahmā-night approaches.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, deep mineral colors, Matsya with single horn emerging from dark pralaya waters, Saptarṣis with matted hair and kamaṇḍalu around Manu, a massive serpent coiled as rope tying a wooden boat to the horn, ornate borders, temple-mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Matsya-avatāra with golden body and prominent horn, embossed gold halo, Manu and Saptarṣis in rich garments, stylized waves, serpent as decorative binding cord, heavy gold work and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional clarity: show the knotting of the serpent-rope to the horn and boat, labeled-like visual hierarchy, calm sages witnessing, soft washes and delicate detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of boat rigging, turbulent ocean rendered with patterned waves, Matsya’s horn as anchor point, sages in a semicircle, naturalistic serpent texture, balanced courtly palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सप्तर्षिभिः = सप्त+ऋषिभिः (द्विगु); परिवृतो→परिवृतः (पुं. प्रथमा); निबध्नीहि (लोट्) स्पष्ट; महाहिना = महा+अहिना (कर्मधारय)
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 2.14-2.17 (continuation of Matsya-pralaya sequence)
FAQs
No ritual-technical vidyā is taught here; the verse conveys a cosmological instruction: enduring the Brāhmī Niśā (cosmic night) under the protection/association of the Saptarṣis, and a specific act of fastening with the Mahāhi (great serpent) onto a horn as part of the narrative action.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s encyclopedic scope by embedding cosmology (Brāhmī Niśā), sacred personages (Saptarṣis), and mythic motifs (great serpent, horn) within instruction-like narration—showing that the Agni Purana preserves not only rituals and sciences but also cosmic-time doctrines and symbolic myth-history.
Spiritually, it frames survival through cosmic dissolution-time (Brahmā’s night) as possible through alignment with ṛṣi-guidance and divine command—implying protection, continuity of dharma, and preservation through obedience to higher order.