Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 11
पाण्डवचरितवर्णनम्
The Account of the Pāṇḍavas
विना कृष्णेन तन्नष्टं दानञ्चाश्रोत्रिये यथा तच् छ्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्तु राज्ये स्थाप्य परीक्षितम्
vinā kṛṣṇena tannaṣṭaṃ dānañcāśrotriye yathā tac chrutvā dharmarājastu rājye sthāpya parīkṣitam
“കൃഷ്ണനില്ലാതെ അത് നശിച്ചുപോകുമായിരുന്നു—ശ്രോത്രിയനല്ലാത്തവന് നൽകിയ ദാനം വ്യർത്ഥമാകുന്നതുപോലെ.” ഇത് കേട്ട് ധർമരാജൻ യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ പരീക്ഷിതനെ രാജസിംഹാസനത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിച്ചു.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic history to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Guidance on dana (gift) ethics—fruitfulness depends on worthy recipient; and on succession—installing a qualified heir to preserve order.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dana to a non-shrotriya is wasted; Parikshit enthroned","lookup_keywords":["ashrotriya dana","shrotriya lakshana","Krishna absence ruin","Parikshit rajyabhisheka"],"quick_summary":"The verse states an ethical rule: gifts to the unqualified are fruitless, analogized to ruin without Krishna; it then records Yudhishthira’s act of installing Parikshit to stabilize the realm."}
Alamkara Type: Upama
Concept: Phala (result) depends on adhikara (eligibility): dana requires a worthy recipient; political order requires rightful installation of a competent heir.
Application: Practice discriminating charity (support learning and integrity); in institutions, ensure qualified succession to prevent decline.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Purana / Rajadharma (Governance and royal succession)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A courtly deliberation: Yudhishthira hearing counsel about Krishna’s absence and the wasted gift simile; then the enthronement of young Parikshit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two scenes: (1) Yudhishthira in thoughtful posture, ministers and sages speaking; (2) Parikshit seated on a lion-throne, ritual water-pot and conch present; bold outlines and ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, coronation moment with gold-leaf throne, parasol, and ritual vessels; Yudhishthira blessing Parikshit; luminous halos and jeweled textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean narrative sequencing; emphasis on ritual correctness—abhisheka pot, priests, sacred fire; restrained palette and fine facial expressions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intricate court architecture; coronation ceremony with attendants, musicians, and scribes; delicate shading and patterned garments."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत् + नष्टम् → तन्नष्टम्; दानम् + च → दानञ्च; च + अश्रोत्रिये → चाश्रोत्रिये; तत् + श्रुत्वा → तच्छ्रुत्वा (written tac chrutvā).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dana-vidhi passages (eligibility, shrotriya); Agni Purana Rajadharma passages on coronation and heir selection
FAQs
It conveys dāna-vidhi ethics: charity bears fruit when given to a qualified recipient (śrotriya); otherwise it becomes fruitless—used here as an analogy for dependence on Kṛṣṇa for dharmic outcomes.
It blends Itihāsa narrative (Parīkṣit’s installation) with normative dharma instruction (standards for effective dāna), illustrating how the Agni Purana integrates history, governance, and ritual-ethical law.
It teaches that right intention must be matched by right eligibility and right support of dharma: gifts to proper recipients and reliance on the divine (Kṛṣṇa) protect merit from becoming ‘lost’ (naṣṭa).