Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 11
Somavaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lunar Dynasty
तामन्तःप्रसवां दृष्ट्वा गर्भं त्यजाब्रवीद्गुरुः गर्भस्त्यक्तः प्रदीप्तो ऽथ प्राहाहं सोमसन्भवः
tāmantaḥprasavāṃ dṛṣṭvā garbhaṃ tyajābravīdguruḥ garbhastyaktaḥ pradīpto 'tha prāhāhaṃ somasanbhavaḥ
内より産みの兆しが迫るのを見て、師は「胎児を外へ捨てよ」と告げた。胎児が捨て出されると、たちまち燦然と燃え輝き、そして言った。「我はソーマ（Soma）、ここに生起せし者なり。」
Agni (narrator) speaking to Vasiṣṭha (frame dialogue typical of Agni Purana); verse itself reports the speech of the expelled embryo identifying as Soma
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Genealogical-mythic framing for later dynastic legitimacy; also a narrative motif explaining extraordinary birth and divine lineage.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Soma’s blazing embryonic emergence","lookup_keywords":["Soma-janma","garbha-tyaga","pradipta-garbha","guru-vacana","divya-utpatti"],"quick_summary":"A miraculous birth episode: the embryo is expelled on the guru’s instruction and manifests with radiance, self-identifying as Soma. Used as a mythic etiological link for lunar lineage."}
Alamkara Type: Adbhuta (wonder motif); Dīpti (radiance imagery) as poetic effect
Concept: Daiva-hetu (divine causality) overriding ordinary birth; authority of guru-vākya within narrative dharma.
Application: Frames reverence for lineage-teachers and acceptance of puranic causality in ritual-historical memory.
Khanda Section: Puranic Narrative (Genealogy / Mythic Episode)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru commands the expulsion of an embryo; the expelled fetus blazes with supernatural light and proclaims itself Soma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, ochre-red background, a seated rishi-guru with kamandalu and jata, a radiant infant/embryo emerging in a halo of flames, stylized lotus motifs, strong contour lines, sacred aura","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halo, central blazing Soma-child with ornate prabhavali, guru figure to the side in rich textiles, embossed gold flames, temple-like arch framing the miracle","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, soft washes, instructional narrative panel: guru gesturing, attendants, luminous child with subtle flame aura, minimal background with palm-leaf manuscript feel","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior with a sage, precise flame rendering around the newborn, fine textiles, marginal floral borders, inscription cartouche with ‘Soma’"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तामन्तःप्रसवाम् = ताम् + अन्तःप्रसवाम्; त्यजाब्रवीत् = त्यज + अब्रवीत्; गर्भस्त्यक्तः = गर्भः + त्यक्तः; प्रदीप्तोऽथ = प्रदीप्तः + अथ; प्राहाहम् = प्राह + अहम्; सोमसन्भवः = सोमसंभवः (नासिक्य-सन्धि/अनुस्वार).
Related Themes: Agni Purana—Vamsha/Chandravamsha sections (Budha–Pururavas cycle); Agni Purana—Yuga/Agni cosmology passages (for fire motif)
FAQs
This verse is primarily narrative (itihāsa/purāṇic kathā): it conveys the mythic manifestation of Soma as a luminous being, rather than prescribing a specific ritual, medical, or martial technique.
Alongside rituals, polity, and śāstric topics, the Agni Purana preserves mythic genealogies and origin-stories (such as Soma’s manifestation), showing its broad scope as a compendium of religious narrative and cosmology.
The episode frames Soma as divinely self-declaring and radiant, underscoring the Purāṇic theme that sacred cosmic principles manifest by destiny and divine order, inspiring reverence toward Soma as a holy, purifying essence.