Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 6

Varāhādy-avatāra-varṇana

Description of Varāha and Other Incarnations

Devanagari script

जिताः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टा हरिं वै शरणं गताः सुराणामभयं दत्वा अदित्या कश्यपेन च

Transliteration

jitāḥ svargātparibhraṣṭā hariṃ vai śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ surāṇāmabhayaṃ datvā adityā kaśyapena ca

Translation

പരാജിതരായി സ്വർഗത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പതിച്ച അവർ നിശ്ചയമായി ഹരിയുടെ ശരണം പ്രാപിച്ചു; അദിതിയും കശ്യപനും ദേവന്മാർക്ക് അഭയം നൽകി।

Word by Word

• जिताः: defeated
• जिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘defeated’

• स्वर्गात्: from heaven
• स्वर्गात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन (ablative)

• परिभ्रष्टाः: fallen/expelled
• परिभ्रष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भ्रंश्/√भ्रश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) with उपसर्ग परि-; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘fallen down/ousted’

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (गत्यर्थे द्वितीया)

• गताः: went (took refuge)
• गताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having gone’

• सुराणाम्: of the gods
• सुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन (genitive)

• अभयम्: fearlessness/safety
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दत्वा: having granted
• दत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having given’

• अदित्या: by Aditi
• अदित्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कश्यपेन: by Kaśyapa
• कश्यपेन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic history to Vasiṣṭha; typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: Karuna

Secondary Rasa: Shanta

Geographic Context

Type: Kingdom

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टा = स्वर्गात् परिभ्रष्टाः; सुराणामभयं = सुराणाम् अभयम्

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Aditi
• Kashyapa
• Suras (Devas)
• Svarga (Heaven)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

This verse primarily conveys the practical spiritual doctrine of śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in Hari) as the operative means of protection when the Devas are overcome.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

It exemplifies the Purana’s historical-theological layer: alongside ritual, law, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana preserves core narrative theology—Vishnu as ultimate protector and the Devas’ restoration through divine assurance.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

The takeaway is that surrender to the divine protector (Hari) and receiving/maintaining abhayadāna (assurance of fearlessness) represent a restoration of dharma and stability when one is displaced by adversity.