Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 3
Dānādi-māhātmya — The Glory of Gifts, Manuscript-Donation, and Purāṇic Transmission
वराहकल्पवृत्तान्तमधिकृत्य पराशरः त्रयोविंशतिसाहस्रं वैष्णवं प्राह चार्पयेत्
varāhakalpavṛttāntamadhikṛtya parāśaraḥ trayoviṃśatisāhasraṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ prāha cārpayet
वराहकल्पाच्या वृत्तान्ताला आधार मानून पराशरांनी तेवीस हजार श्लोकांचे वैष्णव पुराण सांगितले; आणि ते परंपरेने पुढे अर्पण (प्रसारित) करावे.
Lord Agni (narrating within the Agni Purana’s dialogue framework to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Establishes purāṇic lineage: grounding a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa in Varāha-kalpa narrative and prescribing its transmission—useful for cataloging, teaching, and paramparā validation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa-paramparā: Parāśara’s Varāha-kalpa-based 23,000-verse text and its transmission","lookup_keywords":["Parāśara","Varāha-kalpa","Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa","23,000 verses","paramparā"],"quick_summary":"Notes that Parāśara expounded a 23,000-verse Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa based on Varāha-kalpa accounts and emphasizes handing it down—highlighting textual authority and continuity."}
Alamkara Type: Itivṛtta/ākhyāna-saṅgraha (narrative cataloging)
Concept: Śāstra-pravāha: knowledge remains living through disciplined transmission; kalpa-framework situates teachings within cosmic time.
Application: Maintain accurate copying/teaching lineages; cite kalpa and author-tradition when organizing curricula or manuscript catalogs.
Khanda Section: Purana-Granthaprasamsa (Vaishnava-Purana Tradition, Textual Lineage and Transmission)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sage Parāśara teaching a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa to disciples; behind him a cosmic tableau of Varāha lifting Bhū-devī, indicating Varāha-kalpa as the narrative basis; a disciple receives the manuscript to transmit onward.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Parāśara seated with disciples, palm-leaf manuscript, background medallion of Varāha lifting Earth, strong outlines, temple mural palette, emphasis on paramparā handover gesture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Parāśara as central guru with gold halo, ornate manuscript with gold embossing, inset Varāha-Bhūdevī icon with heavy gold work, rich decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic scene: guru-disciple transmission with manuscript, inset cosmic Varāha-kalpa vignette, fine linework and soft shading, clear labeling of ‘23,000’ as a scroll detail.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly in a garden pavilion, Parāśara instructing, manuscript being handed to a student, background painting-within-painting of Varāha lifting Earth, intricate textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: varāhakalpavṛttāntamadhikṛtya = varāha-kalpa-vṛttāntam adhikṛtya; prāha cārpayet = prāha ca arpayet.
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on purāṇa-lakṣaṇa, kalpa narratives, and textual cataloging near the end-material
FAQs
It gives textual-archival knowledge: the basis (Varāha-kalpa) and the metrical extent (23,000 verses) of a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa attributed to Parāśara, along with the instruction that it should be transmitted within a teaching lineage.
By cataloging Purāṇic works through their kalpa-framework, authorial attribution, and verse-count, the Agni Purāṇa functions like a reference index of sacred literature—mapping the broader scriptural ecosystem rather than only narrating myths.
The directive arpayet (“should transmit/entrust”) frames preservation and responsible handing-down of Vaiṣṇava scripture as a dharmic duty, supporting continuity of right knowledge (śāstra) and devotion (bhakti) across generations.