Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 12
Kūrma-avatāra-varṇana (The Description of the Tortoise Incarnation) — Samudra Manthana and the Reordering of Cosmic Prosperity
अमृतं तत्कराद्दैत्या सुरेभ्यो ऽर्धं प्रदाय च गृहीत्वा जग्मुर्जन्माद्या विष्णुः स्त्रीरूपधृक् ततः
amṛtaṃ tatkarāddaityā surebhyo 'rdhaṃ pradāya ca gṛhītvā jagmurjanmādyā viṣṇuḥ strīrūpadhṛk tataḥ
तिच्या हातातून अमृत घेऊन दैत्यांनी देवांना त्याचा अर्धा भाग दिला आणि उरलेले घेऊन निघून गेले; तेव्हा विष्णूंनी स्त्रीरूप धारण केले।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s frame dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Illustrates strategic deception and negotiation around scarce resources (amṛta), and the use of disguise (Mohinī) to restore rightful distribution.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Amṛta Seizure and Mohinī-Upāya","lookup_keywords":["amrita","Daitya","Deva","Mohini","Vishnu stri-rupa"],"quick_summary":"The Daityas seize the remaining amṛta after partial distribution; Viṣṇu adopts a woman’s form (Mohinī) as a strategic means to redirect the nectar to the Devas."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (contrast of Deva/Daitya entitlement)
Concept: Dharma may be protected through skillful means (upāya) when adharma seizes what sustains cosmic order.
Application: In governance/ethics: combine fairness with prudence; when negotiation fails, employ non-violent strategy to prevent harmful monopolization.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Puranic Itihasa (Samudra-manthana / Amrita-episode)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Type: Cosmic Ocean
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Daityas carry off the amṛta after partial sharing; Viṣṇu prepares to assume Mohinī’s enchanting female form to reclaim it for the Devas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic scene: asuras clutching a golden vessel, devas anxious, Vishnu transforming into Mohini with elegant stance, bold outlines, saturated colors, stylized expressions.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Mohini as central figure with gold halo, amṛta vessel highlighted with gold embossing, devas on one side, daityas on the other, ornate jewelry and textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, sequential narrative panel: daityas departing with vessel, Vishnu’s transformation into Mohini shown with subtle transition, fine lines and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly gathering around a nectar vessel, daityas in rich garments moving away, Mohini entering with poised elegance, detailed faces and architecture-like framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatkarāt → tat-karāt; surebhyo 'rdham → surebhyaḥ ardham; jagmurjanmādyāḥ → jagmuḥ janma-ādyāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mohinī and amṛta distribution passages contiguous to this section; Agni Purana: Devasura-kathā and avatāra enumerations
FAQs
No ritual vidyā is taught here; it narrates the amṛta-allocation conflict and introduces Viṣṇu’s strategic assumption of a female form (Mohinī) as a means to restore the Devas’ rightful share.
It preserves a key Puranic episode (Samudra-manthana) alongside the text’s many technical sections, showing how the Agni Purana integrates cosmology, avatāra-theology, and dharmic exemplars within an encyclopedic compilation.
The verse underscores that divine order (dharma) is safeguarded through Viṣṇu’s intervention; it frames immortality (amṛta) as something aligned with cosmic justice rather than mere forceful possession.