Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 22
Kūrma-avatāra-varṇana (The Description of the Tortoise Incarnation) — Samudra Manthana and the Reordering of Cosmic Prosperity
न जेतुमेनां शक्तो मे त्वदृते ऽन्यः पुमान् भुवि अप्राप्याथामृतं दैत्या देवैर् युद्धे निपातिताः त्रिदिवस्थाः सुराश्चासन् यः पठेत् त्रिदिवं व्रजेत्
na jetumenāṃ śakto me tvadṛte 'nyaḥ pumān bhuvi aprāpyāthāmṛtaṃ daityā devair yuddhe nipātitāḥ tridivasthāḥ surāścāsan yaḥ paṭhet tridivaṃ vrajet
«Fora de ti, nenhum homem na terra é capaz de vencê-la por mim. Então, por não alcançarem o amṛta, os Daityas foram abatidos pelos deuses na batalha; os Suras permaneceram firmes no céu. Quem recitar (este relato) irá ao céu».
Lord Agni (narrator) to sage Vasiṣṭha (frame-dialogue attribution typical of Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Phala-śruti: motivates recitation/listening as a dharmic act promising svarga; also reinforces reliance on the guru/deity for conquering delusion.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Phala-śruti of Māyā-jaya and Deva–Daitya amṛta-yuddha outcome","lookup_keywords":["phalaśruti","svarga","amṛta","daitya-devayuddha","pāṭha-phala"],"quick_summary":"The narrative links failure to obtain amṛta with daitya defeat and affirms that reciting the account yields heavenly merit. It frames spiritual victory over Māyā as requiring Śiva’s aid."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (reasoning by consequence) / phala-śruti convention
Weapon Type: General warfare (divine weapons implied)
Concept: Śravaṇa/pāṭha of sacred narrative yields puṇya; adharma (daitya grasping for amṛta) leads to downfall.
Application: Adopt regular recitation/listening as a vrata-like discipline; align desire with dharma rather than grasping for ‘amṛta’ (immortality) through force.
Khanda Section: Phala-śruti (Merit of Recitation) / Deva–Daitya Itihasa (Mythic Narrative)
Primary Rasa: Veera
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Daityas, failing to obtain amṛta, are struck down in battle; devas remain established in heaven; a concluding blessing for reciters is implied.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural battle scene: devas with radiant halos pushing back dark-toned daityas; clouds opening to reveal tridiva; a small corner panel showing a devotee reciting from a palm-leaf manuscript to indicate phala-śruti.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central golden svarga pavilion with devas enthroned; lower register shows fallen daityas; heavy gold work on crowns and weapons; inscription-like band indicating ‘yaḥ paṭhet tridivaṃ vrajet’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: two-tier composition—upper calm svarga with devas, lower battlefield with clear weapon silhouettes; include a seated reader with manuscript as didactic element; fine ornament and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed battlefield with banners and formations; upper margin shows celestial court; a scholar-reciter at the side reading aloud, linking narrative to merit; intricate landscape and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जेतुमेनाम् → जेतुम् + एनाम्; त्वदृतेऽन्यः → त्वदृते + अन्यः; अप्राप्याथामृतम् → अप्राप्य + अथ + अमृतम्; सुराश्चासन् → सुराः + च + आसन्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana phala-śruti passages concluding narrative units (near end of ch. 3)
FAQs
This verse primarily gives phalaśruti—stating the spiritual result of paṭhana (recitation): reciting this narrative leads to tridiva (heaven).
It preserves a compact mythic-historical strand (Deva–Daitya conflict over amṛta) while also embedding a common Purāṇic instruction on textual practice—recitation as a meritorious act—showing how narrative, theology, and soteriological outcomes are integrated.
By associating recitation with svarga-prāpti (attainment of heaven), the verse frames listening/reading as a karma-producing religious act that purifies and yields auspicious post-mortem results.