Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 13
Dānādi-māhātmya — The Glory of Gifts, Manuscript-Donation, and Purāṇic Transmission
सावर्णिना नारदाय ब्रह्मवैवर्तमीरितं रथान्तरस्य वृत्तान्तमष्टादशसहस्रकं
sāvarṇinā nāradāya brahmavaivartamīritaṃ rathāntarasya vṛttāntamaṣṭādaśasahasrakaṃ
सावर्णिना नारदाय ब्रह्मवैवर्तं पुराणमीरितम्—रथान्तरस्य वृत्तान्तः; अष्टादशसहस्रं (श्लोकैः) परिमितम्।
Lord Agni (narrating the textual catalog/tradition within Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Purāṇa cataloging and narrative indexing: identifies Brahmavaivarta’s transmission (Sāvarṇi → Nārada), its extent (18,000), and a key narrative node (Rathāntara) for cross-text navigation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa: Sāvarṇi–Nārada transmission, Rathāntara account, 18,000","lookup_keywords":["Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa","Sāvarṇi","Nārada","Rathāntara","aṣṭādaśa-sahasra"],"quick_summary":"Records who taught the Brahmavaivarta to whom, highlights the Rathāntara episode as a notable content-marker, and states the traditional extent as eighteen thousand verses—useful for identification and thematic lookup."}
Concept: Knowledge organization: a text is authenticated and navigated through paramparā (speaker-hearer), parimāṇa (extent), and kathā-viśeṣa (episode markers).
Application: For study/teaching: cite the traditional speaker chain and key episode labels (e.g., Rathāntara) when referencing Brahmavaivarta; use extent for manuscript identification.
Khanda Section: Purana-paricaya / Itihasa-Purana-sangraha (Puranic cataloging and cross-text narration)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sāvarṇi narrates to Nārada in a forest hermitage; palm-leaf manuscripts labeled ‘Brahmavaivarta’; a symbolic inset of ‘Rathāntara’ as a Vedic chant scene with singers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Nārada with vīṇā seated before Sāvarṇi; manuscript bundles and a stylized Sāman-chant inset (Rathāntara) with singers; bold outlines, earthy palette, lotus borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Nārada with gold halo and vīṇā, Sāvarṇi as venerable narrator; gold-embellished manuscript bundle; inset panel of Vedic chanters labeled Rathāntara; ornate arch framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional composition—speaker-listener lineage emphasized with clear gestures; inset diagram-like panel showing Rathāntara chant assembly; refined detailing and calm tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: hermitage discourse with detailed foliage; Nārada holding vīṇā; scribes recording; small inset of musicians/chanters representing Rathāntara; fine brushwork and calligraphic captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्रह्मवैवर्तमीरितं = ब्रह्म-वैवर्तम् + ईरितम्; वृत्तान्तमष्टादशसहस्रकं = वृत्तान्तम् + अष्टादश-सहस्रकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: purāṇa-saṅkhyā lists and speaker-lineage notes; Agni Purana: itihāsa-purāṇa classification passages
FAQs
This verse imparts textual-tradition knowledge: it identifies the transmitter (Sāvarṇi), recipient (Nārada), the text (Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa), its key narrative focus (Rathāntara), and its extent (18,000 verses).
It functions as bibliographic metadata inside the Agni Purana—mapping Puranic literature through narrator-recipient lineages, topics, and verse counts—showing the Agni Purana’s role as a reference index of Hindu textual knowledge.
By preserving lineage and scope of sacred narratives, the verse supports śravaṇa and smaraṇa (hearing and recollection) of Purāṇic teachings—traditionally held to promote dharma, clarity of tradition, and devotional merit through engagement with authorized scripture.