Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 54
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
बलभद्रः प्रलम्बघ्नो यमुनाकर्षणो ऽभवत् द्विविदस्य कपेर्भेत्ता कौरवोन्मादनाशनः
balabhadraḥ pralambaghno yamunākarṣaṇo 'bhavat dvividasya kaperbhettā kauravonmādanāśanaḥ
ಅವನು ಬಲಭದ್ರನೆಂದು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧನಾದನು—ಪ್ರಲಂಬನ ಸಂಹಾರಕ, ಯಮುನೆಯನ್ನು ಆಕರ್ಷಿಸಿ ತಿರುಗಿಸಿದವನು, ಕಪಿ ದ್ವಿವಿದನನ್ನು ಭೇದಿಸಿ ನಾಶಮಾಡಿದವನು, ಮತ್ತು ಕೌರವರ ಉನ್ಮಾದವನ್ನು ಶಮನಗೊಳಿಸಿದವನು.
Lord Agni (in dialogue to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Catalog of Balabhadra/Balarāma’s heroic epithets used for remembrance, storytelling, and as mnemonic anchors for associated līlās (Pralamba-vadha, Yamunā-karṣaṇa, etc.).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Balabhadra’s epithets and deeds (Pralambaghna, Yamunākarṣaṇa, Dvivida-bhettā)","lookup_keywords":["Balabhadra","Pralamba slayer","Yamunākarṣaṇa","Dvivida","Kaurava unmāda"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists Balarāma’s defining exploits—slaying Pralamba, drawing the Yamunā, killing Dvivida, and dispelling Kaurava frenzy—serving as a compact index of his līlās."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (name-epithet chaining)
Weapon Type: Muṣala (pestle/mace); Hala (plough as weapon/tool)
Concept: Protective strength used to curb adharma and arrogance; divine power restores balance in society (Kaurava ‘unmāda’).
Application: Channel strength toward restraint of injustice; cultivate steadiness against collective frenzy and pride.
Khanda Section: Avataras and Vamsa-Charita (Krishna-Balarama cycle)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A heroic montage of Balarāma: striking down Pralamba, pulling/redirecting the Yamunā with his plough, slaying the monkey Dvivida, and confronting Kauravas to quell their frenzy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural montage: Balarāma with hala and muṣala in four vignettes; Yamunā as stylized river goddess being drawn; Pralamba and Dvivida shown as defeated foes; bold colors, sacred dynamism.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Balarāma with gold halo holding plough and pestle; surrounding medallions of Pralamba-vadha, Yamunākarṣaṇa, Dvivida-bheda, Kaurava subjugation; heavy gold ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: sequential narrative panels with clear action—plough hooking the river, muṣala strike, foes identified; refined linework, readable storytelling.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: action-packed scenes with detailed landscape—riverbank for Yamunā, forest for Dvivida, courtly setting for Kauravas; Balarāma as powerful hero with ornate costume and weapons."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yamunākarṣaṇo 'bhavat = yamunā-karṣaṇaḥ + abhavat. kaperbhettā = kapeḥ + bhettā. kauravonmādanāśanaḥ = kaurava-unmādana-āśanaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 12.53 (Yādava narrative context)
FAQs
This verse primarily imparts itihāsa-purāṇic identifications (nāma–karma saṅgraha): it lists Balarāma’s functional epithets based on specific deeds, serving as a mnemonic catalogue rather than a ritual procedure.
By compressing multiple narratives into a single string of epithets, it functions like an index of mythic events (Pralamba-vadha, Yamunā-karṣaṇa, Dvivida-vadha, Kaurava-unmāda-śamana), demonstrating the text’s encyclopedic style of cataloguing lore for quick recall.
Remembering and reciting such epithets is traditionally treated as smaraṇa of divine deeds (līlā-smṛti), reinforcing devotion and the ideal that divine power removes adharma—symbolized here as “unmāda” (deluded arrogance) among the Kauravas.