Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 13
मत्स्यावतारवर्णनम्
The Description of the Matsya Incarnation
सप्तर्षिभिः परिवृतो निशां ब्राह्मीं चरिष्यसि उपस्थितस्य मे शृङ्गे निबध्नीहि महाहिना
saptarṣibhiḥ parivṛto niśāṃ brāhmīṃ cariṣyasi upasthitasya me śṛṅge nibadhnīhi mahāhinā
ସପ୍ତର୍ଷିମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପରିବୃତ ହୋଇ ତୁମେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମରାତ୍ରି ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରିବ। ମୁଁ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ଥିବାବେଳେ ମହାସର୍ପଦ୍ୱାରା ତାହାକୁ ମୋ ଶୃଙ୍ଗରେ ବାନ୍ଧିଦିଅ।
Lord Agni (narrating in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Pralaya-katha as a dharmic template: preserve śāstra/seed-life through crisis; ritual imagination for recitation and teaching of manvantara cycles.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Matsya’s instruction: Brahmā-night survival and binding the boat to the horn","lookup_keywords":["Brahmī-niśā","saptarṣi","mahāhinā","śṛṅga","nau-bandhana"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames pralaya as ‘Brahmā’s night’ and gives the practical instruction to secure the boat to the divine horn using the great serpent, ensuring safe passage with the Saptarṣis."}
Alamkara Type: Ājñā (imperative instruction) with itihāsa-vṛtta
Concept: Śāstra-rakṣaṇa (preservation of Veda) and surrender to īśvara’s upadeśa during cosmic dissolution.
Application: Use the narrative as a model for crisis-ethics: protect knowledge, keep wise counsel (saptarṣi), follow precise instruction.
Khanda Section: Puranic Narrative (Cosmic Events and Divine Instructions)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Type: Ocean
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Matsya instructs Manu: the Saptarṣis stand around; a great serpent is used to bind the boat to the fish’s horn as the Brahmā-night approaches.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, deep mineral colors, Matsya with single horn emerging from dark pralaya waters, Saptarṣis with matted hair and kamaṇḍalu around Manu, a massive serpent coiled as rope tying a wooden boat to the horn, ornate borders, temple-mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Matsya-avatāra with golden body and prominent horn, embossed gold halo, Manu and Saptarṣis in rich garments, stylized waves, serpent as decorative binding cord, heavy gold work and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional clarity: show the knotting of the serpent-rope to the horn and boat, labeled-like visual hierarchy, calm sages witnessing, soft washes and delicate detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of boat rigging, turbulent ocean rendered with patterned waves, Matsya’s horn as anchor point, sages in a semicircle, naturalistic serpent texture, balanced courtly palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सप्तर्षिभिः = सप्त+ऋषिभिः (द्विगु); परिवृतो→परिवृतः (पुं. प्रथमा); निबध्नीहि (लोट्) स्पष्ट; महाहिना = महा+अहिना (कर्मधारय)
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 2.14-2.17 (continuation of Matsya-pralaya sequence)
FAQs
No ritual-technical vidyā is taught here; the verse conveys a cosmological instruction: enduring the Brāhmī Niśā (cosmic night) under the protection/association of the Saptarṣis, and a specific act of fastening with the Mahāhi (great serpent) onto a horn as part of the narrative action.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s encyclopedic scope by embedding cosmology (Brāhmī Niśā), sacred personages (Saptarṣis), and mythic motifs (great serpent, horn) within instruction-like narration—showing that the Agni Purana preserves not only rituals and sciences but also cosmic-time doctrines and symbolic myth-history.
Spiritually, it frames survival through cosmic dissolution-time (Brahmā’s night) as possible through alignment with ṛṣi-guidance and divine command—implying protection, continuity of dharma, and preservation through obedience to higher order.