Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 23
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
अपृथग्धर्मचरणास् ते तप्यन्त महत्तपः दशवर्षसहस्राणि समुद्रसलिलेशयाः
apṛthagdharmacaraṇās te tapyanta mahattapaḥ daśavarṣasahasrāṇi samudrasalileśayāḥ
தர்மத்தைச் சிதறாமல் கடைப்பிடித்த அவர்கள் மகத்தான தவம் செய்தனர்; கடல்நீரில் படுத்திருந்து பத்தாயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் நிலைத்திருந்தனர்।
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Guidance for tapas: steadfast dharma-practice (apṛthag-dharma) and long-duration austerity as a model for vows, discipline, and self-restraint.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ocean-water tapas for ten thousand years (Pracetases’ austerity)","lookup_keywords":["tapas","samudra-salila","daśa-sahasra-varṣa","apṛthag-dharma","vrata"],"quick_summary":"The verse describes extreme austerity: remaining in ocean waters for ten thousand years while maintaining unwavering dharma. It exemplifies tapas as sustained, disciplined practice rather than momentary effort."}
Concept: Tapas requires unwavering dharma and long continuity; endurance and restraint purify and empower.
Application: Adopt sustainable vows (niyama), consistency, and ethical steadiness; interpret the extremity as an idealized benchmark rather than literal prescription for all.
Khanda Section: Tapas and Dharma (Ascetic practice; Puranic ethics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Water-body
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ascetics immersed in ocean water, motionless in meditation for vast years, conveying endurance and serenity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized waves, ten ascetics half-submerged with calm faces, lotus-like stillness, muted blues/greens, ornate border with conch and wave motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ascetics in ocean with gold highlights on water ripples and halos, devotional stillness, rich background with stylized sea creatures subdued.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean meditative composition, gentle wave patterns, emphasis on posture and breath-control cues, fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic seascape, ascetics in disciplined poses amid detailed waves, distant horizon, subtle atmospheric perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: apṛthagdharmacaraṇās = a + pṛthak + dharma + caraṇāḥ (bahuvrīhi); mahattapaḥ = mahat + tapaḥ; samudrasalileśayāḥ = samudra-salila-śayāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: vrata/tapas discussions; Agni Purana: Prajāpati/Pracetases narrative continuation
FAQs
It highlights a specific ascetic discipline: sustained tapas through immersion/reclining in ocean-water, framed as unwavering dharma-practice rather than a standalone ritual procedure.
Alongside ritual and doctrinal topics, the Agni Purana catalogs exemplary modes of conduct—here, extreme asceticism—thus documenting ethical-spiritual disciplines as part of its broad compendium.
Unbroken dharma joined with long-term tapas is presented as exceptionally purifying and merit-generating, indicating high spiritual potency through disciplined endurance.