Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 11
Granthaprasthāvanā (Preface): Sāra of Knowledge, Twofold Brahman, and the Purpose of Avatāras
कालाग्निरूपिणम् विष्णुं ज्योतिर्ब्रह्म परात्परम् मुनिभिः पृष्टवान् देवं पूजितं ज्ञानकर्मभिः
kālāgnirūpiṇam viṣṇuṃ jyotirbrahma parātparam munibhiḥ pṛṣṭavān devaṃ pūjitaṃ jñānakarmabhiḥ
ບັນດາມຸນີໄດ້ຖາມພຣະເທວະ—ພຣະວິສນຸ—ຜູ້ມີຮູບເປັນໄຟແຫ່ງກາລະ (ກາລາກນິ) ເປັນແສງ-ພຣະພຣະຫມັນອັນສູງສຸດ ເກີນກວ່າຄວາມສູງສຸດ; ແລະຖືກບູຊາດ້ວຍທັງຍານ ແລະກຳກະທຳອັນສັກສິດ।
Sūta (narrative voice introducing the sages’ inquiry; Purāṇic framing before Agni’s instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Frames Purāṇic study as both jñāna (insight) and karma (ritual/ethical action) directed to the same Supreme; useful as an invocation for recitation and for aligning practice with doctrine.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Viṣṇu as Kālāgni and Jyotirbrahman; worship by Jñāna and Karma","lookup_keywords":["kālāgni","jyotirbrahman","viṣṇu-tattva","jñāna-karma","pūjā"],"quick_summary":"Identifies Viṣṇu as the supreme Light-Brahman appearing as Time-Fire (kālāgni) and establishes a twofold mode of worship: knowledge and sacred action."}
Alamkara Type: Virodha (apparent paradox) / Atiśayokti (hyperbolic transcendence)
Concept: Non-dual supremacy of the Lord as Brahman (jyotiḥ) who also manifests as cosmic Time (kāla) and is approachable by both jñāna and karma.
Application: Integrate study/meditation with disciplined ritual and duty; treat both as complementary approaches to the same Reality.
Khanda Section: Agni–Vishnu-tattva and Purana-prashna (Invocation & doctrinal framing)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circle of sages seated in a forest hermitage, questioning a radiant Viṣṇu whose aura blazes like the fire of Time; offerings and scriptures indicate worship by knowledge and ritual.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated rishis in saffron, palm-leaf manuscripts, luminous Viṣṇu with fiery halo (kālāgni aura), deep reds and ochres, stylized lotuses, sacred fire altar in foreground","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with brilliant gold-leaf prabhāmaṇḍala like flames, sages in reverent poses, ornate arch, rich jewel tones, embossed gold detailing on halo and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, soft shading, hermitage setting with yajña-kuṇḍa, sages holding śāstra, Viṣṇu depicted as radiant light with subtle flame motifs, instructional calm composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest āśrama, rishis in conversation, a luminous divine figure with flame-like nimbus, delicate foliage, fine textiles, balanced courtly composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्योतिर्ब्रह्म = ज्योतिः + ब्रह्म; परात्परम् = परात् + परम्; ज्ञानकर्मभिः = ज्ञान + कर्मभिः (द्वन्द्वसमास).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Purāṇa-lakṣaṇa and vidyā-varga sections (opening adhyāyas); Agni Purāṇa: chapters on jñāna-yoga and mokṣa-dharma themes (later philosophical portions)
FAQs
It presents the Agni Purana’s core doctrinal method: worship of the Supreme (Viṣṇu as luminous Brahman) is fulfilled through a combined discipline of jñāna (right knowledge/realization) and karma (prescribed sacred rites and duties).
By explicitly pairing jñāna and karma, the verse signals the text’s integrative scope—linking metaphysics (Brahman, transcendence), cosmology (kālāgni), and practical religion (pūjā/ritual action), a hallmark of the Agni Purana’s multi-disciplinary instruction.
It teaches that liberation-oriented understanding (jñāna) and meritorious duty-bound practice (karma) are not opposed; together they sanctify worship and align the practitioner with the Supreme who governs time, dissolution, and ultimate transcendence.