Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 27
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
भविष्यं जानता सृष्टा भार्या वो ऽस्तु कुलङ्करी अस्यामुत्पत्स्यते दक्षः प्रजाः संवर्धयिष्यति
bhaviṣyaṃ jānatā sṛṣṭā bhāryā vo 'stu kulaṅkarī asyāmutpatsyate dakṣaḥ prajāḥ saṃvardhayiṣyati
ພຣະຜູ້ສ້າງ ຜູ້ຮູ້ອະນາຄົດລ່ວງໜ້າ ໄດ້ປັ້ນສ້າງນາງ ແລະກ່າວວ່າ: “ຂໍໃຫ້ນາງເປັນພັນລະຍາຂອງພວກເຈົ້າ ເປັນເຄື່ອງປະດັບແຫ່ງວົງຕະກູນ. ຈາກນາງນີ້ ດັກສະ (Dakṣa) ຈະເກີດຂຶ້ນ ແລະຈະບຳລຸງເພີ່ມພູນສັດທັງຫຼາຍ.”
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic sarga/genealogy to the listening sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Frames progenitor genealogy as a cosmological principle: foreknown design (bhavishya-jñāna) guiding creation and social institution (marriage) for prajā-vṛddhi.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Māriṣā as kula-alaṅkāra; birth of Dakṣa and prajā-vardhana","lookup_keywords":["Dakṣa","kulaṅkarī","Prajāpati","prajā-vardhana","bhaviṣya-jñāna"],"quick_summary":"The Creator’s foreknowledge is invoked to legitimize Māriṣā’s role as wife and as the mother of Dakṣa, who becomes the agent of population and creation-increase."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (supporting statement)
Concept: Īśvara/Prajāpati’s foreknowledge and purposeful ordering of creation (niyati within sarga).
Application: Read genealogical accounts as models of dharmic social structuring—marriage and progeny as instruments of loka-saṅgraha.
Khanda Section: Prajā-sarga / Genealogy and Progenitors (Sarga-Prakaraṇa)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic-creator figure (Prajāpati/Brahmā implied) pronounces Māriṣā as the destined wife and foretells the birth of Dakṣa, with symbolic imagery of flourishing beings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Brahmā/Prajāpati seated on lotus-like pedestal, hand in boon-giving gesture, Māriṣā depicted as auspicious bride, subtle motifs of sprouting vines and small creatures indicating prajā-vṛddhi.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central creator figure with gold halo, Māriṣā adorned as ‘kulaṅkarī’, miniature symbols of abundance (grain, cows, children) around, heavy gold work and jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean narrative clarity: creator pointing to a future scene vignette of Dakṣa and expanding beings, soft shading, didactic panel layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-like cosmic assembly, creator on a throne, scribal/prophetic feel, background showing successive generations in small registers, refined detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vo 'stu = vaḥ + astu; asyām-utpatsyate = asyām + utpatsyate.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 18 (Sarga-prakaraṇa: Dakṣa and progenitors)
FAQs
It imparts Purāṇic cosmological knowledge: the Creator ordains a marriage that becomes the causal link for Dakṣa’s birth, establishing the mechanism of prajā-saṃvardhana (the expansion and governance of living beings).
Beyond rituals and disciplines, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves sarga (creation) frameworks and genealogies—mapping how progenitors like Dakṣa function as institutional agents for population increase and social-cosmic order.
It frames marriage and lineage as dharmic instruments of cosmic continuity: sanctioned union leads to progenitors who sustain beings, presenting procreation and protection of life as a sacred, order-maintaining duty.