Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 4
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
भुवो भारावतारार्थं देवक्यां वसुदेवतः हिरण्यकशिपोः पुत्राः षड्गर्भा योगनिद्रया
bhuvo bhārāvatārārthaṃ devakyāṃ vasudevataḥ hiraṇyakaśipoḥ putrāḥ ṣaḍgarbhā yoganidrayā
భూమి భారాన్ని తగ్గించుటకై, యోగనిద్రా శక్తిచేత, హిరణ్యకశిపుని ఆరు కుమారులైన గర్భాలు వసుదేవుని ద్వారా దేవకీ గర్భమున స్థాపింపబడ్డాయి.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic account to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"कृष्णावतार-प्रस्तावना में ‘भूभारहरण’ हेतु अवतरण-तत्त्व समझना; योगनिद्रा/माया-शक्ति की भूमिका से कथा-चिन्तन","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"भूभारावतार-हेतु देवकी-गर्भ में षड्गर्भ-न्यास (योगनिद्रा-प्रभाव)","lookup_keywords":["भूभार","देवकी","वसुदेव","षड्गर्भ","हिरण्यकशिपु","योगनिद्रा"],"quick_summary":"पृथ्वी का भार उतारने के लिए अवतार-योजना के अंतर्गत योगनिद्रा-शक्ति द्वारा देवकी के गर्भ में षड्गर्भों का नियोजन बताया गया है। यह कृष्ण-जन्म-प्रसंग की पूर्वपीठिका है।"}
Alamkara Type: Hetu (कारण-निर्देश: भूभारावतारार्थम्)
Concept: ईश्वर-शक्ति (योगनिद्रा/माया) द्वारा लीला-नियोजन; लोक-धारण हेतु अवतार का प्रयोजन (भूभारहरण)
Application: अवतार-तत्त्व पर मनन, शक्ति-तत्त्व की उपासना/समझ, कथा-श्रवण में कारण-मीमांसा
Khanda Section: Avataras (Incarnations) / Krishna-Janma-Prastavana
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"देवकी-वसुदेव के साथ योगनिद्रा-देवी का रहस्यमय प्राकट्य; दिव्य शक्ति षड्गर्भों को देवकी के गर्भ में नियोजित करती है—पृथ्वी-भारहरण हेतु अवतार-योजना का संकेत।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Devaki and Vasudeva in subdued prison-like setting, Yog Nidra as radiant goddess with flowing garments, mystical transfer of six glowing embryo-orbs, dramatic yet sacred palette, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Yog Nidra goddess with gold halo and ornate jewelry, Devaki seated as expectant mother, Vasudeva beside, six luminous orbs symbolizing embryos, heavy gold work, deep red background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined narrative scene, gentle shading, Yog Nidra performing divine act, clear iconographic cues, calm but mysterious atmosphere, emphasis on storytelling clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, interior palace-prison chamber, Devaki and Vasudeva in fine textiles, ethereal female figure (Yog Nidra) descending, six small glowing spheres, intricate architectural details and floral borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भुवो→भुवः; भारावतारार्थं→भार-अवतार-अर्थम्; षड्गर्भा→षट्-गर्भाः (visarga/ending normalized); योगनिद्रया→योगनिद्रया (no split beyond compound)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: कृष्ण-जन्म/देवकी-गर्भ/कंस-प्रसंग के अनुवर्ती अध्याय
FAQs
It conveys avatāra-vidyā: the doctrine that divine descent occurs with a defined cosmic purpose (bhu-bhāra-haraṇa), and that Yog-nidrā functions as a divine operative power enabling extraordinary events like the transfer/placement of embryos.
It preserves a theological-historical strand (avatāra narrative, genealogy, and divine agency) alongside the text’s many technical domains, showing how cosmology and divine causality frame social and historical events within Purāṇic knowledge systems.
The verse emphasizes that cosmic suffering and imbalance are addressed through divinely guided intervention; contemplating bhu-bhāra-haraṇa and Yog-nidrā supports faith in dharma’s restoration and the purposeful nature of divine descent.