Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 9
Chapter 19 — कश्यपवंशवर्णनम्
Description of Kaśyapa’s Lineage
विरोवनस्तु प्राह्रादिर्बलिर्जज्ञे विरोचनात् बलेः पुत्रशतं त्वासीद्वाणश्रेष्ठं महामुने
virovanastu prāhrādirbalirjajñe virocanāt baleḥ putraśataṃ tvāsīdvāṇaśreṣṭhaṃ mahāmune
ویروون پرہْراد کا بیٹا تھا؛ اور ویروچن سے بَلی پیدا ہوا۔ اے مہامنی، بَلی کے سو بیٹے تھے، جن میں بان سب سے برتر تھا۔
Lord Agni (narrating the Purana to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Establishes the Prahlāda→Virocana→Bali→Bāṇa succession crucial for Vāmana/Trivikrama and later Hari–Hara narrative intersections (Bāṇa episodes).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Prahlāda-vaṃśa: Virocana–Bali and Bāṇa as foremost son","lookup_keywords":["Virocana","Bali","Bāṇa","Prahlāda-vaṃśa","Vāmana"],"quick_summary":"Links Prahlāda’s line to Bali and notes Bali’s hundred sons with Bāṇa preeminent—key indexing for Vāmana and Bāṇa-related legends."}
Concept: Fame and consequence flow through lineage; Bali becomes a dharmic touchstone via dāna and satya in the Vāmana episode.
Application: Use the Bali archetype to reflect on dāna (generosity) and keeping one’s word even under pressure.
Khanda Section: Puranic Genealogies (Daitya–Danava Vamsha / Dynastic Lineages)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Genealogical succession culminating in Bali with a retinue; a symbolic depiction of ‘hundred sons’ with Bāṇa highlighted as foremost.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Bali as majestic asura king with parasol and attendants, behind him a stylized row suggesting many sons, Bāṇa singled out with brighter attire, traditional narrative framing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Bali with gold-embossed ornaments, a semicircle of princes indicating many sons, Bāṇa closest to the throne with distinct halo-like aureole, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean lineage illustration: Prahlāda→Virocana→Bali, then a grouped set of sons with Bāṇa labeled as ‘śreṣṭha’, balanced composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature court scene, Bali seated with numerous princes arranged in tiers, Bāṇa emphasized by central placement and finer detailing, architectural pavilion backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विरोवनस्तु → विरोवनः तु; प्राह्रादिर्बलिः → प्राह्रादिः बलिः; बलिर्जज्ञे → बलिः जज्ञे; त्वासीद् → तु आसीत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 19 (Bali/Bāṇa placement in Daitya line)
FAQs
This verse imparts genealogical knowledge (vamśa/vaṃśānucarita)—a structured lineage record used in Purāṇic historiography to situate kings and clans within sacred history.
By preserving a concise dynastic sequence (Prahlāda → Virovana → Virocana → Bali → Bāṇa), it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s cataloging function—recording lineages alongside rituals, polity, and other disciplines.
Remembering and transmitting Purāṇic lineages supports smṛti (sacred recollection) and dharma-oriented historical memory, reinforcing continuity of tradition and the moral framing of rulers’ deeds across generations.