Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 5
Varāhādy-avatāra-varṇana
Description of Varāha and Other Incarnations
स्वपदस्थान् सुरांश् चक्रे नारसिंहः सुरैः स्तुतः देवासुरे पुरा युद्धे बलिप्रभृतिभिः सुराः
svapadasthān surāṃś cakre nārasiṃhaḥ suraiḥ stutaḥ devāsure purā yuddhe baliprabhṛtibhiḥ surāḥ
دیوتاؤں کے ستائے ہوئے نرسِمْہ نے دیوتاؤں کو اُن کے اپنے مقامات پر پھر قائم کیا۔ پہلے دیو-اسُر جنگ میں بَلی وغیرہ کے ہاتھوں دیوتا مغلوب ہو گئے تھے۔
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic history to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Teaches restoration of svadharma/svadhikāra (rightful stations) after crisis; used to frame divine kingship and institutional reinstatement after conflict.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Narasiṃha restores devas to their stations; background of Devāsura war","lookup_keywords":["Narasiṃha","deva-sthāna","Bali","devāsura-yuddha","stuti"],"quick_summary":"After being praised, Narasiṃha reinstates the gods in their proper offices; the verse recalls the earlier Devāsura conflict where Bali’s side had overpowered them."}
Alamkara Type: Anusmṛti/itihāsa-saṅgati (flashback linkage)
Concept: Rightful stations (pada-sthāna) are part of ṛta/dharma; divine intervention restores functional order after adharma.
Application: After conflict, prioritize reinstating lawful roles and institutions; public praise/acknowledgment consolidates legitimacy.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Devāsura-Yuddha (Narasimha-avatāra narrative)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Narasiṃha, now praised by the gods, gestures restoration as devas return to their celestial seats; a brief visual echo of earlier Devāsura war with Bali’s dominance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devas in orderly rows returning to jeweled thrones, Narasiṃha receiving stuti, balanced composition, temple-like framing, saturated colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, devas seated on ornate thrones with gold embellishment, Narasiṃha central with radiant halo, stuti scene with rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: devas labeled by attributes, Narasiṃha in calm victorious stance, background vignette of Devāsura battle with Bali","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly reinstatement scene in a celestial durbar, Narasiṃha as sovereign protector, devas returning to rank, fine architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुरांश् = सुरान्; देवासुरे = देव-असुरे (द्वन्द्व); बलिप्रभृतिभिः = बलि-प्रभृतिभिः
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Devāsura narrative sequence leading into Vāmana avatāra
FAQs
No ritual procedure is taught here; the verse conveys avatāra-tattva—divine intervention restoring the Devas’ rightful offices (svapada) when cosmic order is disrupted.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s historical-theological layer: avatāra narratives are used to contextualize dharma, divine protection, and cosmic governance alongside the text’s many technical disciplines.
The takeaway is that praising and taking refuge in the Lord (here Narasiṃha) aligns one with dharma; divine power re-establishes rightful order when adharma prevails.