Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 9
Chapter 19 — कश्यपवंशवर्णनम्
Description of Kaśyapa’s Lineage
विरोवनस्तु प्राह्रादिर्बलिर्जज्ञे विरोचनात् बलेः पुत्रशतं त्वासीद्वाणश्रेष्ठं महामुने
virovanastu prāhrādirbalirjajñe virocanāt baleḥ putraśataṃ tvāsīdvāṇaśreṣṭhaṃ mahāmune
വിരോവനൻ പ്രഹ്ലാദന്റെ പുത്രനായിരുന്നു; വിരോചനനിൽ നിന്ന് ബലി ജനിച്ചു. മഹാമുനേ, ബലിക്ക് നൂറു പുത്രന്മാർ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; അവരിൽ ബാണൻ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായിരുന്നു.
Lord Agni (narrating the Purana to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Establishes the Prahlāda→Virocana→Bali→Bāṇa succession crucial for Vāmana/Trivikrama and later Hari–Hara narrative intersections (Bāṇa episodes).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Prahlāda-vaṃśa: Virocana–Bali and Bāṇa as foremost son","lookup_keywords":["Virocana","Bali","Bāṇa","Prahlāda-vaṃśa","Vāmana"],"quick_summary":"Links Prahlāda’s line to Bali and notes Bali’s hundred sons with Bāṇa preeminent—key indexing for Vāmana and Bāṇa-related legends."}
Concept: Fame and consequence flow through lineage; Bali becomes a dharmic touchstone via dāna and satya in the Vāmana episode.
Application: Use the Bali archetype to reflect on dāna (generosity) and keeping one’s word even under pressure.
Khanda Section: Puranic Genealogies (Daitya–Danava Vamsha / Dynastic Lineages)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Genealogical succession culminating in Bali with a retinue; a symbolic depiction of ‘hundred sons’ with Bāṇa highlighted as foremost.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Bali as majestic asura king with parasol and attendants, behind him a stylized row suggesting many sons, Bāṇa singled out with brighter attire, traditional narrative framing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Bali with gold-embossed ornaments, a semicircle of princes indicating many sons, Bāṇa closest to the throne with distinct halo-like aureole, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean lineage illustration: Prahlāda→Virocana→Bali, then a grouped set of sons with Bāṇa labeled as ‘śreṣṭha’, balanced composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature court scene, Bali seated with numerous princes arranged in tiers, Bāṇa emphasized by central placement and finer detailing, architectural pavilion backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विरोवनस्तु → विरोवनः तु; प्राह्रादिर्बलिः → प्राह्रादिः बलिः; बलिर्जज्ञे → बलिः जज्ञे; त्वासीद् → तु आसीत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 19 (Bali/Bāṇa placement in Daitya line)
FAQs
This verse imparts genealogical knowledge (vamśa/vaṃśānucarita)—a structured lineage record used in Purāṇic historiography to situate kings and clans within sacred history.
By preserving a concise dynastic sequence (Prahlāda → Virovana → Virocana → Bali → Bāṇa), it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s cataloging function—recording lineages alongside rituals, polity, and other disciplines.
Remembering and transmitting Purāṇic lineages supports smṛti (sacred recollection) and dharma-oriented historical memory, reinforcing continuity of tradition and the moral framing of rulers’ deeds across generations.