Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 27
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
मथुराधिपतिं कंसं हत्वा तत्पितरं हरिः चक्रे यादवराजानम् अस्तिप्राप्ती च कंसगे
mathurādhipatiṃ kaṃsaṃ hatvā tatpitaraṃ hariḥ cakre yādavarājānam astiprāptī ca kaṃsage
ഹരി മഥുരാധിപനായ കംസനെ വധിച്ച് കംസന്റെ പിതാവിനെ യാദവരുടെ രാജാവാക്കി; കംസസംബന്ധമായ സംഭവത്തിൽ അസ്ഥികളുടെ പ്രാപ്തിയും ഉണ്ടായി।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Shows post-regime-change stabilization: installing a legitimate ruler and performing rites/administration after violence; guidance for political transition and social order.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Post-Kaṃsa governance: installation of Kaṃsa’s father and recovery rites","lookup_keywords":["Kaṃsa-vadha","Mathurā","succession","Yādava","asthi-prāpti"],"quick_summary":"After slaying Kaṃsa, Kṛṣṇa restores governance by installing Kaṃsa’s father and arranging recovery/collection of remains—signaling orderly transition and due rites after conflict."}
Alamkara Type: Itivṛtta (chronicle-like narration)
Concept: Victory is completed by re-establishing lawful order and honoring the dead through proper closure.
Application: In any conflict resolution, plan for governance, legitimacy, and post-crisis rites/administration (documentation, restitution, funerary duties).
Khanda Section: Avataras / Krishna-Charita (Puranic Narrative: Yadava polity after Kamsa-vadha)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Vīra
Type: Kingdom/City
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"After Kaṃsa’s death, Kṛṣṇa oversees the installation of Kaṃsa’s father as ruler and the solemn recovery/collection of remains connected to the conflict.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, courtly installation scene: elder seated as king with attendants, Kṛṣṇa standing as dharma-restorer; secondary vignette of ritual collection of remains with priests, lamps, and solemn palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, coronation-like tableau with gold-embossed throne and parasol; Kṛṣṇa with halo gestures blessing/authorization; ritual vessels and priests indicated with ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: court assembly, symbols of kingship (cāmara, chatra), and a small side-scene of asthi-saṃgraha with ritual implements; fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, durbar scene with layered courtiers; Kṛṣṇa as key figure; careful depiction of administrative handover; muted solemn tones for funerary-recovery vignette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatpitaraṃ = tat + pitaraṃ (compound). astiprāptī/kaṃsage appear as transmitted; astiprāptī is morphologically problematic (likely scribal/edition variant).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Kṛṣṇa-carita: Kaṃsa-vadha and subsequent Yādava affairs
FAQs
It conveys a governance principle (rāja-nīti/rajadharma in narrative form): after removing a tyrant, the rightful ruler is reinstated to stabilize the polity.
Beyond theology, it preserves political-historical memory: succession, legitimacy, and restoration of order—topics that connect Puranic narrative to broader rajadharma and statecraft concerns.
It frames the avatāra’s action as both the destruction of adharma (Kaṃsa) and the re-establishment of dharma through rightful rule, presenting kingship as a moral order aligned with divine purpose.