Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 3
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
सुनीत्यान्तु ध्रुवः पुत्रस्तपस्तेपे स कीर्तये ध्रुवो वर्षसहस्राणि त्रीणि दिव्यानि हे मुने
sunītyāntu dhruvaḥ putrastapastepe sa kīrtaye dhruvo varṣasahasrāṇi trīṇi divyāni he mune
ಸುನೀತಿಯ ಪುತ್ರ ಧ್ರುವನು ಕೀರ್ತಿಗಾಗಿ ತಪಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸಿದನು. ಹೇ ಮುನೇ, ಧ್ರುವನು ಮೂರು ಸಾವಿರ ದಿವ್ಯ ವರ್ಷಗಳವರೆಗೆ ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿರನಾಗಿದ್ದನು।
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Purāṇic discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Model for tapas-based devotion: inspires vrata, japa, and disciplined practice aimed at spiritual attainment and steadfastness (dhruvatva).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Dhruva’s Tapas Duration (Three Thousand Divine Years)","lookup_keywords":["Dhruva","tapas","Suniti","divya varsha","kirtaye"],"quick_summary":"States the extraordinary duration of Dhruva’s austerities, emphasizing sustained discipline as the cause of exalted attainment."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti
Concept: Dīrgha-kāla-abhyāsa (long-term practice) and ekāgratā as the engine of siddhi/vara.
Application: Adopt consistent daily discipline (niyama), accept delayed fruition, and measure progress by steadiness rather than quick results.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Puranic Genealogies (Dhruva-Charitra / Tapas-Glory Narratives)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Young Dhruva, son of Sunīti, performing intense austerities for ages—still, focused, enduring seasons and cosmic time.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, child-ascetic Dhruva standing on one leg in forest-āśrama, matted hair, minimal ornaments, surrounding animals and sages witnessing, stylized seasons circling him to show long duration, bold outlines and flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Dhruva as radiant child-yogi with gold halo, forest shrine setting, gold leaf on sacred tree and ornaments, symbolic ring of time (sun, moon) around him","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined devotional-instructional scene: Dhruva in tapas posture, subtle depiction of passing time via small vignettes of seasons in corners, calm palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest landscape with Dhruva in center, delicate flora/fauna, time-lapse narrative in margins (snow, rain, heat), fine brushwork and naturalistic shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुनीत्यान्तु→सुनीत्या + तु; पुत्रस्तपस्तेपे→पुत्रः + तपः + तेपे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 18 (Dhruva-charitra continuation)
FAQs
This verse conveys the practical discipline of tapas (austerity as a regulated spiritual practice) and introduces the Purāṇic time-measure concept of “divine years” used to quantify long ascetic observances.
By embedding a time-measure (divyāni varṣāṇi) and a model of ascetic practice within a genealogy/legend cycle, it shows how the Agni Purāṇa blends cosmology, chronology, and ethical-spiritual instruction alongside narrative history.
It underscores that sustained tapas—measured across vast spans of sacred time—generates extraordinary merit and renown, presenting Dhruva as a paradigmatic example of karmic elevation through determined spiritual discipline.