Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 12
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
क्रोष्टोर्वंशं प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्र जातो हरिः स्वयम् क्रोष्टोस्तु वृजिनीवांश् च स्वाहाभूद्वृजिनीवतः
kroṣṭorvaṃśaṃ pravakṣyāmi yatra jāto hariḥ svayam kroṣṭostu vṛjinīvāṃś ca svāhābhūdvṛjinīvataḥ
ఇప్పుడు నేను క్రోష్టు వంశాన్ని ప్రకటిస్తాను; ఆ వంశంలో స్వయంగా హరి (విష్ణువు) అవతరించాడు. క్రోష్టుని నుండి వృజినీవాన్ పుట్టాడు; వృజినీవాన్ నుండి స్వాహా జన్మించింది.
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s primary discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Frames the Yādava/Kroṣṭu lineage as avatāra-bearing (Hari’s birth in that line); used in devotional-historical narration to connect dynastic history with Viṣṇu-bhakti.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kroṣṭu lineage as Hari’s birth-line; Kroṣṭu → Vṛjinīvān → Svāhā","lookup_keywords":["Kroṣṭu","Vṛjinīvān","Svāhā","Hari born","Yādava lineage"],"quick_summary":"The narrator announces a new genealogical section: Kroṣṭu’s line is sanctified as the matrix for Hari’s manifestation; early links of the chain are given for orientation."}
Alamkara Type: Ukti/Pratijñā (authorial vow: ‘pravakṣyāmi’)
Concept: Divinity enters history through chosen lineages; remembering that lineage becomes a devotional act (smaraṇa) supporting dharma and bhakti.
Application: In recitation/teaching: introduce the Kroṣṭu/Yādava genealogy as a devotional preface to Kṛṣṇa/Hari narratives; in worship: use lineage-remembrance as a form of nāma-smaraṇa.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Charita (Genealogies of royal lineages; Puranic dynastic history)
Primary Rasa: Bhakti
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A narrator-sage gestures to a painted genealogical scroll titled ‘Kroṣṭu-vaṁśa’; above the lineage tree a subtle Viṣṇu/Hari presence (a radiant emblem) indicates ‘Hari Himself born here’; nodes show Kroṣṭu, Vṛjinīvān, Svāhā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sage reciting with palm-leaf manuscript, lineage tree with three named nodes, a luminous Viṣṇu symbol (conch-disc aura) above, bold colors, temple-style ornamented border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central genealogy scroll with gold foil, Kroṣṭu and descendants as small crowned figures, Viṣṇu’s radiant aura above (without complex narrative), rich gold and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clean didactic composition: sage pointing to lineage chart, labels for Kroṣṭu/Vṛjinīvān/Svāhā, soft shading, restrained ornamentation, devotional aura at top","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar-sage presenting a genealogical album page, delicate calligraphy for names, a subtle divine radiance motif above the page indicating Hari’s birth-line, fine floral margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्रोष्टोर्वंशं→क्रोष्टोः + वंशम् (visarga before v); क्रोष्टोस्तु→क्रोष्टोः + तु; वृजिनीवांश् च→वृजिनीवान् + च; स्वाहाभूत्→स्वाहा + अभूत्; अभूद्वृजिनीवतः→अभूत् + वृजिनीवतः (t+v→dv).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: subsequent Kroṣṭu/Yādava genealogy and Hari/Kṛṣṇa-related narrative segments (following verses)
FAQs
This verse primarily imparts Purāṇic vaṃśa-vidyā (genealogical knowledge): it introduces the Kroṣṭu lineage and names successive descendants, situating Hari (Viṣṇu) within that dynastic context.
By preserving structured dynastic data (names, descent relations, and the placement of divine birth within a human lineage), it exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic function—cataloguing history, tradition, and theological memory alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences.
Remembering and reciting sacred lineages is treated in Purāṇic tradition as smṛti and śravaṇa that strengthens devotion and dharma, because it links human history to the manifestation of Hari and reinforces faith in divine presence within the world-order.