Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 10
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
वसूक्तो वसुलोकाय शरशय्यागतः स्थितः उत्तरायणमीक्षंश् च ध्यायन् विष्णुं स्तवन् स्थितः
vasūkto vasulokāya śaraśayyāgataḥ sthitaḥ uttarāyaṇamīkṣaṃś ca dhyāyan viṣṇuṃ stavan sthitaḥ
സ്തുതികളാൽ പുകഴ്ത്തപ്പെട്ട അദ്ദേഹം വസുലോകപ്രാപ്തിക്ക് നിയതനായി ശരശയ്യയിൽ കിടന്നു; ഉത്തരായണം നോക്കി വിഷ്ണുവിനെ ധ്യാനിച്ച് സ്തുതിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് അചഞ്ചലനായി നിന്നു.
Lord Agni (narrating in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Models end-of-life sādhanā: maintaining steadiness, timing one’s departure with auspicious solar movement (uttarāyaṇa), and sustaining Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and stuti as a mokṣa-oriented practice.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhīṣma on Śaraśayyā: Uttarāyaṇa Gaze and Viṣṇu-Stuti","lookup_keywords":["śaraśayyā","uttarāyaṇa","Viṣṇu-dhyāna","stuti","Vasu-loka"],"quick_summary":"Bhīṣma, lying on a bed of arrows, waits for uttarāyaṇa while meditating on and praising Viṣṇu—an exemplar of steadfast devotional concentration at death and auspicious timing."}
Alamkara Type: Bhāva (devotional mood depiction)
Concept: Anta-kāla-smaraṇa (remembrance at death) supported by stuti and dhyāna; auspicious kāla (uttarāyaṇa) as a supportive condition for departure.
Application: Cultivate daily Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and stotra recitation so the mind can remain steady at crisis/death; align major vows/rites with sacred calendrical moments when possible.
Khanda Section: Moksha-Dharma / Bhishma-Charita (Uttarayana and Vishnu-smriti at death)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bhīṣma lies composed on a bed of arrows, garlanded or praised by surrounding sages/warriors; his eyes turn toward the northern-moving sun (uttarāyaṇa). A serene Viṣṇu appears in vision or as a small icon above, receiving his hymn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Bhīṣma on śaraśayyā with stylized arrows, calm face, sages and Pāṇḍavas around in reverent poses, sun disc moving northward indicated in upper corner, Viṣṇu in a cloud-vision with conch and discus, rich flat colors and ornate border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Bhīṣma reclining on arrow-bed with gold highlights on arrows and ornaments, Viṣṇu as radiant central/upper deity with embossed gold halo, attendants offering flowers, warm reds and greens, devotional stillness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework: Bhīṣma’s composed posture, clear depiction of uttarāyaṇa sun path as an arc, Viṣṇu iconography precise (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma), soft palette with delicate gold","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate deathbed scene on battlefield edge: Bhīṣma on arrows, figures seated in counsel and reverence, pale winter sun angled northward, a subtle luminous Viṣṇu vision above, fine detailing of textiles and expressions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वसूक्तो = वसु-उक्तः; शरशय्यागतः = शर-शय्या-गतः; उत्तरायणमीक्षंश् च = उत्तरायणम् + ईक्षन् + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana Mokṣa-dharma oriented passages (general); Agni Purana stotra/mantra sections on Viṣṇu (general)
FAQs
It conveys a practical deathbed discipline: remaining steady in mind, focusing on the auspicious Uttarāyaṇa period, and performing Viṣṇu-dhyāna (meditation) and stuti (hymnic praise) as a directed spiritual practice.
Alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-oriented guidance—linking cosmology (Vasuloka), sacred time (Uttarāyaṇa), and devotional technique (Viṣṇu-smaraṇa and stava) into a concise instruction on end-of-life spirituality.
The verse emphasizes that steadfast remembrance and praise of Viṣṇu—especially aligned with auspicious sacred time—supports elevated posthumous attainment (such as Vasuloka) and serves as a direct means toward purification and liberation-oriented merit.