Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 15
मत्स्यावतारवर्णनम्
The Description of the Matsya Incarnation
एकशृङ्गधरो मत्स्यो हैमो नियुतयोजनः हौ मनुरिति ख, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः ननु विष्णुस्त्वमिति ख, ग, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकत्रयपाठः इत्य् उक्तान्तर्हितो मत्स्य इति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः इत्य् उक्त्वा देवमत्स्यात्मा बृहत्कारणसङ्गत इति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः नावम्बबन्ध तच्छृङ्गे मत्स्याख्यं च पुराणकम्
ekaśṛṅgadharo matsyo haimo niyutayojanaḥ hau manuriti kha, gha, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ nanu viṣṇustvamiti kha, ga, gha, cihnitapustakatrayapāṭhaḥ ity uktāntarhito matsya iti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ ity uktvā devamatsyātmā bṛhatkāraṇasaṅgata iti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ nāvambabandha tacchṛṅge matsyākhyaṃ ca purāṇakam
ఒక శృంగమును ధరించిన, స్వర్ణవర్ణుడై, అనేక యోజనాల విస్తారముగల మత్స్యుడు ప్రత్యక్షమయ్యెను. ఇట్లు చెప్పి దేవస్వరూపుడు (విష్ణురూపుడు) అయిన మత్స్యుడు నావను ఆ శృంగమునకు బంధింపజేసెను; ఇదే ‘మత్స్య’ పురాణప్రసంగము.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Purāṇic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Iconographic and cosmographic visualization of Matsya (golden, single-horn, immense) and the practical act of fastening the boat—used in teaching avatāra-lakṣaṇa and pralaya logistics.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Matsya’s form (golden, single-horn, vast) and fastening the boat to the horn","lookup_keywords":["ekāśṛṅga","haima","niyuta-yojana","nau-bandhana","devamatsya"],"quick_summary":"The verse specifies Matsya’s extraordinary form—golden, single-horned, immeasurably vast—and records the key procedure: the boat is secured to the horn, establishing the canonical Matsya-pralaya episode."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbolic magnitude: niyuta-yojana)
Concept: Īśvara as kāraṇa-sambandha (linked to the ‘great causal principle’): the avatāra is not merely a creature but the causal Lord sustaining order through dissolution.
Application: Contemplate avatāra as support-system in instability; cultivate śraddhā that dharma has an underlying causal protector.
Khanda Section: Avataras (Matsya-avatara / Pralaya narrative)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Type: Ocean
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A colossal golden Matsya with a single horn appears; the boat is visibly tied to the horn, emphasizing the immense scale (myriad yojanas) and divine causality.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, monumental golden fish with single horn dominating the frame, boat tethered to horn with thick rope/serpent motif, sages and Manu small to show scale, stylized waves and lotus motifs, traditional mural borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Matsya rendered in bright gold with embossed gold work, large halo, boat attached to horn, jewel-like ocean patterns, ornate detailing and rich textiles on Manu/sages","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise depiction of Matsya’s horn and tether mechanism, scale indicated by layered horizon lines, soft colors, fine ornamentation, clear narrative focus on ‘nau-bandhana’","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dramatic scale contrast: tiny boat and figures against gigantic fish, meticulous wave textures, subtle gold accents for fish body, refined linework and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse text contains critical apparatus; analyzed main readable pāṭha: ‘एकशृङ्गधरो… नावं बबन्ध तच्छृङ्गे मत्स्याख्यं च पुराणकम्’. नावम्बबन्ध = नावम् + बबन्ध; तच्छृङ्गे = तत् + शृङ्गे
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 2.13-2.14 (instructions and boarding); Agni Purāṇa 2.16 (Hayagrīva/Veda recovery narrative)
FAQs
It conveys cosmological knowledge (pralaya-vidyā) through the Matsya-avatāra motif: divine guidance preserves Manu and the vessel of continuity by fastening the boat to Matsya’s horn.
By embedding a compact avatāra-and-pralaya account, it integrates theology (Viṣṇu as Matsya), cosmology (the ‘great cause’/kāraṇa), and purāṇic historiography into the text’s multi-topic compendium style.
It emphasizes refuge in the divine during dissolution: aligning with Viṣṇu’s protective agency symbolizes preservation of dharma and the karmic continuity of creation through Manu.