Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 2
Chapter 275 — द्वादशसङ्ग्रामाः
The Twelve Battles
धर्मसंरक्षणार्थाय ह्य् अधर्महरणाय च सुरादेः पालनार्थञ्च दैत्यादेर्मथनाय च
dharmasaṃrakṣaṇārthāya hy adharmaharaṇāya ca surādeḥ pālanārthañca daityādermathanāya ca
ແທ້ຈິງແລ້ວ (ພຣະອົງ) ກະທຳເພື່ອປົກປ້ອງທຳມະ ແລະເພື່ອກຳຈັດອະທຳມະ; ເພື່ອຄຸ້ມຄອງເທວະ ແລະອື່ນໆ, ແລະເພື່ອທຳລາຍພວກໄດຕະຍະ ແລະອື່ນໆ.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Frames the avatara doctrine as a dharma-restoring principle useful for ethical reflection, teaching, and liturgical narration of Vishnu’s protective role.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Avatara-lakshya: Dharma-samrakshana and Daitya-nigraha","lookup_keywords":["dharma-samrakshana","adharma-harana","deva-paritrana","daitya-nigraha","avatara-prayojana"],"quick_summary":"The descent/activity of the Lord is defined by four aims: protect dharma, remove adharma, safeguard devas, and subdue daityas. This becomes a doctrinal lens for interpreting all avatara narratives."}
Concept: Divine intervention is teleologically oriented to dharma-samsthapan: protection of the righteous and suppression of adharmic forces.
Application: Use as a criterion for judging leadership, personal conduct, and the ethical legitimacy of force: protect the good, restrain harm, uphold order.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Dharma-Samsthapan (Vishnu’s protective descents; Daitya-nigraha)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vishnu’s protective descent motif: devas sheltered behind Vishnu while daityas are subdued; dharma personified being lifted up and adharma cast down.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Vishnu in radiant blue with four arms, devas in reverent poses behind, daityas subdued below, personified Dharma standing restored, rich reds and ochres, bold outlines, sacred aura","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Vishnu with prabhavali and gold leaf highlights, devas offering garlands, daityas diminished at the base, symbolic Dharma-adharma balance, ornate jewelry and embossed gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, didactic composition showing four aims (dharma protection, adharma removal, deva protection, daitya crushing) as labeled vignettes around Vishnu, delicate gesso detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly cosmic tableau: Vishnu as regal protector, devas in orderly ranks, daityas in dynamic retreat, fine architectural clouds and landscape, intricate textiles and restrained palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्य् → हि (निपात); पालनार्थञ्च → पालनार्थम् + च; दैत्यादेर्मथनाय → दैत्यादेः + मथनाय.
Related Themes: Agni Purana avatara-nirupana sections (dharma-samsthapan framing); Agni Purana Vishnu-stuti and dharma topics
FAQs
The verse conveys the doctrinal purpose of divine intervention: preserving dharma, removing adharma, protecting the devas, and subduing daityic forces—guiding the practical ethic of protection and restraint in governance and religious life.
It frames a core puranic principle—cosmic order maintained through dharma-protection and suppression of disruptive powers—linking theology with broader Agni Purana themes like rājadharma (state protection), social order, and moral causality.
Aligning one’s actions with dharma—protecting the righteous and restraining harmful forces—is presented as participation in cosmic order, leading to auspicious merit (puṇya) and inner purification through support of dharmic stability.