Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 50
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
कीर्तिमान् भद्रसेनश् च जारुख्यो विष्णुदासकः भद्रदेहः कंश एतान् षड्गर्भान्निजघान ह
kīrtimān bhadrasenaś ca jārukhyo viṣṇudāsakaḥ bhadradehaḥ kaṃśa etān ṣaḍgarbhānnijaghāna ha
キールティマーン、バドラセーナ、ジャールクヒヤ、ヴィシュヌダーサカ、バドラデーハ——カンサはまことに、これら六つの胎児を殺した。
Lord Agni (narrating the Purana’s account to Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Remembering the Kamsa-atrocity motif (slaying of Devakī’s embryos) as a narrative trigger for Kṛṣṇa’s descent and as an ethical exemplar of adharma leading to downfall.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kaṃsa’s slaying of Devakī’s six embryos","lookup_keywords":["Kaṃsa ṣaḍgarbha","Devakī embryos","Kīrtimān Bhadrasena","Jārukhya Viṣṇudāsaka","Bhadradeha"],"quick_summary":"Names the six embryos/sons associated with Devakī whom Kaṃsa kills, highlighting the tyrant’s adharma and setting the karmic stage for Kṛṣṇa’s appearance."}
Concept: Adharma (cruelty, fear-driven violence) accelerates one’s ruin; harm to the innocent becomes the seed of divine retribution and restoration of order.
Application: Ethical instruction in discourse: condemn violence against the vulnerable; illustrate karmic consequence and the necessity of protecting dependents.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Puranic Genealogies (Krishna–Kamsa narrative; Harivamsha-style lineage/episodes)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: City
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dark palace-prison scene: Kaṃsa in rage, Devakī grieving, the tragic killing of the six embryos/infants symbolized (often shown as infants or as luminous embryos), with ominous shadows and guards.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic yet stylized: Kaṃsa with fierce eyes and raised weapon, Devakī and Vasudeva in sorrow, prison bars, oil lamps; subdued reds and blacks, expressive gestures, divine fate hinted by a faint celestial glow above.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, narrative panel with gold accents on crowns and weapons; Kaṃsa central, Devakī to side with tearful face; symbolic six small cradles/lotus-buds representing embryos; ornate frame, devotional cautionary tone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, controlled emotion and clear storytelling; prison architecture carefully drawn; six lotus-bud icons labeled with names; emphasis on didactic clarity rather than gore.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed prison interior, Kaṃsa in royal attire, guards, Devakī and Vasudeva restrained; small vignettes or symbolic infants; muted palette, fine linework, calligraphic labels for the six names."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhadrasenaś ca = bhadrasenaḥ + ca (visarga sandhi); ṣaḍgarbhānnijaghāna = ṣaḍgarbhān + nijaghāna (n + n assimilation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 275 (Kṛṣṇa birth context immediately following)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as narrative cataloging—naming the six embryos/sons associated with Devakī’s pregnancy whom Kaṃsa kills.
By preserving precise onomastic detail (names and counts) within the Krishna–Kamsa cycle, the Agni Purana acts as a compendium that consolidates mythic history, dynastic memory, and episode-based summaries across traditions.
The verse highlights the grave adharma of foeticide/infanticide attributed to Kaṃsa, underscoring karmic consequence and setting the moral-theological backdrop for divine intervention in the Krishna narrative.