Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 2
Kūrma-avatāra-varṇana (The Description of the Tortoise Incarnation) — Samudra Manthana and the Reordering of Cosmic Prosperity
दुर्वाससश् च शापेन निश्रीकाश्चाभवंस्तदा स्तुत्वा क्षीराब्धिगं विष्णुम् ऊचुः पालय चासुरात्
durvāsasaś ca śāpena niśrīkāścābhavaṃstadā stutvā kṣīrābdhigaṃ viṣṇum ūcuḥ pālaya cāsurāt
ਤਦੋਂ ਦੁਰਵਾਸਾ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਪ ਨਾਲ ਉਹ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ (ਸਮ੍ਰਿੱਧੀ ਤੇ ਤੇਜ) ਤੋਂ ਰਹਿਤ ਹੋ ਗਏ। ਖੀਰ-ਸਾਗਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੱਸਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਣੂ ਦੀ ਸ্তুਤੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਹ ਬੋਲੇ—“ਅਸੁਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਵੀ ਸਾਡੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰੋ।”
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic episode to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"विपत्ति में स्तुति-शरणागति द्वारा ईश्वर-स्मरण; ‘श्री-क्षय’ को धर्म-चेतावनी मानकर अहंकार/अपराध से बचना।","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"दुर्वासा-शाप, श्री-नाश, और क्षीरसागरस्थ विष्णु-शरणागति","lookup_keywords":["दुर्वासा शाप","श्री-नाश","क्षीरसागर","विष्णु स्तुति","शरणागति"],"quick_summary":"दुर्वासा के शाप से देवता ‘श्री’ से रहित हुए और क्षीरसागर में स्थित विष्णु की स्तुति कर असुरों से रक्षा की याचना करते हैं।"}
Alamkara Type: भावोक्ति
Concept: विपत्ति में ईश्वर-शरणागति और स्तुति; ‘श्री’ का क्षय अधर्म/अपराध का फल हो सकता है।
Application: संकट-काल में स्तोत्र/नामस्मरण, तथा महर्षि/साधु-अपराध से सावधानी।
Khanda Section: Avataras & Deva-Asura Itihasa (Samudra-manthana / Devas seeking refuge)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"श्री-रहित देवगण क्षीरसागर-तट/आकाश में हाथ जोड़कर क्षीरसागर-शायी विष्णु की स्तुति करते हैं।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devas with folded hands before Kshirasagara, Vishnu reclining on serpent in milky ocean, dramatic yet devotional palette, stylized waves","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Vishnu on Ananta in white-blue ocean, devas in prayer, heavy gold work on crowns and ornaments, luminous Sri absence implied by subdued aura","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, balanced composition of praying devas and reclining Vishnu, fine facial expressions of distress, soft colors, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed milky sea with ripples, Vishnu reclining, devas in ornate attire pleading, delicate shading and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"भैरवी","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: निश्रीकाश्चाभवंस्तदा→निश्रीकाः च अभवन् तदा; चासुरात्→च असुरात्.
Related Themes: अग्निपुराण 3 (समुद्रमन्थन-प्रसंग)
FAQs
The verse conveys a practical dharmic principle rather than a ritual manual: when prosperity (Śrī) is lost due to a śāpa (curse), one seeks śaraṇāgati (refuge) through stuti (praise) of Viṣṇu, asking for protection from hostile forces.
It situates the text within major Purāṇic itihāsa (Deva–Asura cycles and Samudra-manthana background), integrating theology (Viṣṇu as protector), ethics (consequences of a curse), and cosmological geography (Kṣīrābdhi) as part of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging compendium.
It emphasizes karma and accountability—loss of Śrī follows from a powerful sage’s curse—and teaches that restoration and safety come through humility, praise, and reliance on divine protection, especially when one’s own strength is diminished.