Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 22
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
इन्द्रोत्सवस्तु तुष्टेन भूयः कृष्णेन कारितः रथस्थो मथुराञ्चागात् कंसोक्ताक्रूरसंस्तुतः
indrotsavastu tuṣṭena bhūyaḥ kṛṣṇena kāritaḥ rathastho mathurāñcāgāt kaṃsoktākrūrasaṃstutaḥ
എന്നാൽ തൃപ്തനായ കൃഷ്ണൻ വീണ്ടും ശക്രോത്സവം നടത്തിച്ചു; തുടർന്ന് രഥാരൂഢനായി മഥുരയിലേക്കു പോയി—കംസന്റെ ആജ്ഞപ്രകാരം, അക്രൂരന്റെ സ്തുതിയോടുകൂടെ।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s usual dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Shows reconciliation and social harmony: after correcting Indra’s pride, Kṛṣṇa permits the festival again—teaching calibrated reform rather than permanent rupture.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Indrotsava punar-anujñā; Kṛṣṇa’s journey to Mathurā with Akrūra","lookup_keywords":["Indrotsava","Akrūra","Mathurā-yātrā","Kaṁsa-ājñā","ratha"],"quick_summary":"Kṛṣṇa allows the Indra-festival again when appropriate, then departs for Mathurā on Kaṁsa’s summons with Akrūra—marking the transition from Vraja-līlā to Mathurā events."}
Concept: Yukti in dharma: reform is context-sensitive; after pride is corrected, social rites may be restored without surrendering truth.
Application: When correcting institutions, aim for restoration of balance and community cohesion once the underlying harm is addressed.
Khanda Section: Avatara-Charita (Krishna-Katha / Vaishnava Narrative)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom/City route
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A festive Vraja scene where Indra’s festival is resumed under Kṛṣṇa’s approval, followed by Kṛṣṇa boarding a chariot with Akrūra and departing toward Mathurā under Kaṁsa’s command.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-register composition: upper register with Indrotsava decorations and offerings, lower register with Kṛṣṇa and Akrūra on a chariot leaving Vraja, stylized trees and village huts, warm reds and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Kṛṣṇa seated on ornate chariot with gold embellishments, Akrūra as charioteer in reverent posture, distant festival lamps and banners, heavy gold work on jewelry and chariot details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed chariot mechanics and harness, Akrūra praising Kṛṣṇa, villagers watching with mixed joy and sadness, soft pastel palette and precise outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling road to Mathurā with attendants, chariot in motion, architectural hints of Mathurā in the distance, fine facial expressions and textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: indrotsavastu = indra-utsavaḥ tu; mathurāñcāgāt = mathurām ca agāt; kaṃsoktākrūrasaṃstutaḥ = kaṃsa-ukta-akrūra-saṃstutaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Krishna-Charita: Kaṁsa episode sequence leading to Mathurā combats (following verses 12.23–12.24)
FAQs
It references the performance of Indrotsava (Indra’s festival), indicating the Purāṇic practice of calendrical/communal festivals as part of dharmic observance, though the verse itself is primarily narrative rather than a step-by-step ritual manual.
Alongside technical chapters (ritual, polity, medicine, etc.), the Agni Purāṇa preserves Itihāsa-Purāṇa narrative material—here, Kṛṣṇa’s departure for Mathurā under Kaṁsa’s scheme—showing its breadth across both doctrine/practice and sacred history.
By portraying Kṛṣṇa as approving and arranging a major festival and then proceeding toward a destined confrontation, the verse frames dharmic celebration and divine-lila as auspicious acts that uphold social-religious order and lead toward the removal of adharma (Kaṁsa).