Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 16
Vedaśākhā-dikīrtana
Enumeration of the Vedic Branches) and Purāṇa-Vaṃśa (Lineages of Transmission
वेदेषु सपुराणेषु यज्ञमूर्तिश् च गीयते आग्नेयाख्यं पुराणन्तु रूपं विष्णोर्महत्तरं
vedeṣu sapurāṇeṣu yajñamūrtiś ca gīyate āgneyākhyaṃ purāṇantu rūpaṃ viṣṇormahattaraṃ
ในพระเวทพร้อมทั้งปุราณะ พระองค์ได้รับสรรเสริญว่าเป็นยัชญมูรติ คือรูปแห่งยัญพิธี; แต่ปุราณะที่ชื่อว่า ‘อัคนేయะ’ กล่าวกันว่าเป็นรูปปรากฏของพระวิษณุที่ยิ่งใหญ่ยิ่งกว่า।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Establishes scriptural authority and frames the Agni Purana as a Viṣṇu-manifestation; used to justify study/recitation as a valid sādhanā and as a compendium-source for multiple vidyās.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Āgneya Purāṇa as Viṣṇu’s Greater Manifestation (Yajña-mūrti Context)","lookup_keywords":["Yajñamūrti","Viṣṇu-rūpa","Āgneya Purāṇa","Purāṇa-mahātmya","Veda-Purāṇa praise"],"quick_summary":"The verse identifies the deity praised in Veda-Purāṇa tradition as Yajña embodied, and elevates the Āgneya Purāṇa as an even greater Viṣṇu-manifestation—supporting its primacy for study and recitation."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbolic elevation of the text as ‘greater form’)
Concept: Śabda-pramāṇa and text-as-deity: the Purāṇa is treated as a manifestation (rūpa) of Viṣṇu; yajña is a divine embodiment, not merely a ritual act.
Application: Approach Purāṇa study as worship (sevā) and as a legitimate means to dharma/knowledge, not only as narrative reading.
Khanda Section: Purana-mahatmya (Glorification and identity of the Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred assembly where Veda and Purāṇa are revered; Viṣṇu appears as Yajña-mūrti, merging with a blazing altar and offerings, while a manuscript labeled ‘Āgneya Purāṇa’ is honored as his greater form.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, Viṣṇu as Yajña-mūrti beside a homa-kuṇḍa with priests, palm-leaf manuscript of Āgneya Purāṇa on a pedestal, ornate temple backdrop, symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu halo with gold foil, yajña altar with flames, richly jeweled attendants holding Veda and Purāṇa manuscripts, embossed gold ornaments, deep red-green background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: altar, ladles, offerings, manuscript labeled Āgneya, Viṣṇu’s calm face with soft shading, minimal but precise ritual objects","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly assembly of scholars, illuminated manuscript presentation, Viṣṇu as luminous apparition above the yajña fire, fine textile patterns, detailed architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सपुराणेषु = स-पुराणेषु; यज्ञमूर्तिश् = यज्ञमूर्तिः (visarga before ca); पुराणन्तु = पुराणम् + तु; विष्णोर्महत्तरं = विष्णोः + महत्तरम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 270 (Purāṇa-māhātmya sequence)
FAQs
It conveys the ritual-theological principle that Viṣṇu is ‘Yajñamūrti’—the personified essence of sacrifice—thereby grounding Vedic yajña practice in devotion to Viṣṇu, while presenting the Āgneya Purāṇa as a primary textual vehicle for that understanding.
By asserting the Āgneya Purāṇa as an exalted ‘form of Viṣṇu,’ the text legitimizes its wide-ranging coverage (ritual, dharma, iconography, polity, arts) as not merely miscellaneous, but as integrated sacred knowledge anchored in the Vedic yajña worldview.
Seeing Viṣṇu as the inner reality of yajña sacralizes worship and duty: ritual acts become offerings to Viṣṇu, and reverence for the Āgneya Purāṇa is framed as reverence toward a divine manifestation, supporting purification and merit through right understanding and devotion.