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
Tomando o amṛta de sua mão, os Daityas—depois de dar metade aos Devas—apoderaram-se do restante e partiram. Então Viṣṇu, assumindo forma de mulher, (pôs os acontecimentos em movimento).
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.