Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 13
Kūrma-avatāra-varṇana (The Description of the Tortoise Incarnation) — Samudra Manthana and the Reordering of Cosmic Prosperity
तां दृष्ट्वा रूपसम्पन्नां दैत्याः प्रोचुर्विमोहिताः भव भार्यामृतं गृह्य पाययास्मान् वरानने
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā rūpasampannāṃ daityāḥ procurvimohitāḥ bhava bhāryāmṛtaṃ gṛhya pāyayāsmān varānane
Ao vê-la, dotada de beleza perfeita, os Daityas, totalmente iludidos, disseram: “Sê nossa esposa; toma o amṛta e faze-nos beber, ó formosa de rosto.”
Narratorial voice of the Agni Purana (traditionally Agni instructing Vasiṣṭha), reporting the Daityas’ speech
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Shows how moha (delusion) arises from sensory fascination; useful for ethical instruction and for understanding narrative persuasion and desire-driven error.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Daitya-Moha before Mohinī","lookup_keywords":["Mohini beauty","Daitya delusion","amrita request","moha","vara-anana"],"quick_summary":"The Daityas, captivated by Mohinī’s beauty, request marriage and ask her to administer amṛta—revealing how desire clouds judgment and enables dharmic reversal."}
Alamkara Type: Shringara (as narrative catalyst)
Concept: Kāma-induced moha leads to adharma and loss of discernment (viveka).
Application: Cultivate restraint and discrimination in decision-making; do not entrust vital resources to those who exploit fascination or flattery.
Khanda Section: Avataras / Amrita-Manthana (Samudra-manthana narrative)
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Type: Mythic gathering place
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Mohinī stands radiant; the Daityas gaze in astonished delusion and plead for marriage and for her to serve them amṛta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Mohini with large expressive eyes and ornate hair, asuras with exaggerated astonished faces, gesture of supplication, rich flat colors, decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Mohini adorned with heavy gold jewelry and halo, daityas kneeling with folded hands, amṛta vessel nearby, gold foil emphasis on ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined facial expressions, subtle shringara mood, Mohini centered with gentle smile, daityas arranged in orderly narrative composition, soft pastel background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court-like scene, Mohini in elegant sari-like drapery, daityas in turbans leaning forward, detailed textiles and jewelry, delicate architecture frame."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kapi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: procurvimohitāḥ → procuḥ vimohitāḥ; bhāryāmṛtam → bhāryā-amṛtam; varānane → vara-ānane.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mohinī episode continuation (distribution to Devas; Rāhu incident)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse narrates the Daityas’ delusion and their demand that the enchanting woman take amrita and serve it to them.
It shows the Purana’s encyclopedic scope by preserving major pan-Puranic mythic history (Samudra-manthana/Mohinī), alongside its many later chapters on ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
It illustrates moha (delusion) arising from desire and attachment to sensory beauty, a recurring moral theme: craving for immortality and pleasure clouds discernment and leads to downfall.