Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 2
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
पार्थं ह्य् उवाच भगवान्नशोच्या भीष्ममुख्यकाः शरीराणि विनाशीनि न शरीरी विनश्यति
pārthaṃ hy uvāca bhagavānnaśocyā bhīṣmamukhyakāḥ śarīrāṇi vināśīni na śarīrī vinaśyati
భగవంతుడు పార్థునితో పలికెను—భీష్మాదులు శోకించవలసినవారు కారు. శరీరాలు నశ్వరాలు; దేహి అయిన ఆత్మ నశించదు।
Bhagavan (the Lord, in a Bhagavad-Gita-style doctrinal citation within the Purana’s moksha teaching)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Teaching imperishability of the Self to remove grief and restore clarity in crisis; used for counseling, grief-work, and dharmic decision-making.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Deha-nāśa vs. Ātman-avināśa (Perishable body, imperishable embodied Self)","lookup_keywords":["na śocyāḥ","śarīra vināśin","śarīrī avināśī","ātman","Gītā"],"quick_summary":"Do not grieve for the wise/elders: bodies perish, but the embodied Self does not. This reframes death and duty through ātma-nityatā."}
Concept: Ātman is imperishable; only the body is subject to destruction; grief based on bodily identification is misplaced.
Application: Apply viveka (discrimination) in bereavement and high-stakes duty: act without delusion of annihilation of the Self.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Atma-jnana (Teachings on the Self and imperishability)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kṛṣṇa instructs Arjuna with calm authority, emphasizing the imperishable Self; Arjuna listens, grief easing, battlefield blurred behind them.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Krishna as divine charioteer teaching Arjuna; serene halo, stylized lotus motifs; contrast between calm figures and distant war ranks; emphasis on shānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore gold-work: Krishna with radiant aureole, right hand in teaching gesture; Arjuna seated with folded hands; ornate chariot details, gilded borders, devotional yet philosophical tone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: didactic composition with speech-scroll effect; Krishna pointing to heart/sky to signify ātman; subdued battlefield elements; fine ornamentation and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate dialogue on chariot; naturalistic expressions; subtle light around Krishna; distant armies and banners; refined textiles and weaponry rendered in detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्य्=हि; भगवान्नशोच्या=भगवान् + न + शोच्याः (न-निषेधः); भीष्ममुख्यकाः=भीष्म-मुख्यकाः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Mokṣa-dharma/Ātma-jñāna passages on nityatva of ātman; Agni Purana: Gītā-like summaries within Itihāsa sections
FAQs
It imparts Atma-jnana (knowledge of the Self): the body is destructible, while the embodied Self is not destroyed—supporting disciplined detachment in dharmic action.
Alongside ritual and practical sciences, the Agni Purana preserves core philosophical doctrine (moksha-dharma), integrating ethical psychology (grief, duty) with metaphysics (Self vs. body).
By reducing grief rooted in misidentifying the Self with the body, it strengthens equanimity and right action (dharma), which supports purification of mind and progress toward liberation.