Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 23
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
अश्वत्थामास्त्रनिर्दग्धं जीवयामास वै हरिः उत्तरायास्ततो गर्भं स परीक्षिदभून्नृपः
aśvatthāmāstranirdagdhaṃ jīvayāmāsa vai hariḥ uttarāyāstato garbhaṃ sa parīkṣidabhūnnṛpaḥ
Hari (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa) quả thật đã làm sống lại bào thai trong dạ Uttarā vốn bị vũ khí của Aśvatthāmā thiêu cháy; và đứa trẻ ấy trở thành vua Parīkṣit.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Conveys divine protection of lineage and the idea of life-preservation against destructive forces; used devotionally to affirm Hari as rakṣaka and ethically to stress safeguarding the vulnerable (garbha).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Hari revives Uttarā’s embryo scorched by Aśvatthāmā’s astra; birth of Parīkṣit","lookup_keywords":["Uttarā-garbha","Parīkṣit","Hari","Aśvatthāmā-astra","garbha-rakṣā"],"quick_summary":"States that Hari restored life to the fetus harmed by Aśvatthāmā’s weapon, ensuring dynastic continuity through Parīkṣit—an archetype of divine guardianship and restoration."}
Weapon Type: Astra (brahmāstra-like destructive weapon implied by tradition)
Concept: Īśvara as rakṣaka: divine grace can restore what is seemingly destroyed; dharma is preserved through protection of the innocent.
Application: Devotional remembrance of Hari in संकट (crisis); ethical emphasis on protecting unborn life and the helpless.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Puranic Narrative (Mahabharata-linked Genealogy and Protection of the Kuru Lineage)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kṛṣṇa/Hari radiating protective light, blessing Uttarā’s womb; the destructive astra’s scorch effect halted; the unborn Parīkṣit symbolically shown सुरक्षित within a luminous aura.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Kṛṣṇa with serene face and blue complexion, abhaya-mudrā, Uttarā seated modestly, womb area shown with symbolic lotus-light, dark astra-flame arrested at the edge, adbhuta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Kṛṣṇa central with gold halo and rich ornaments, Uttarā to the side, womb-protection depicted as golden aura/lotus, heavy gold work emphasizing divine intervention.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, gentle shading and refined ornamentation, instructional clarity: Kṛṣṇa’s blessing gesture toward Uttarā, subtle depiction of astra’s heat dissipating, calm domestic palace setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace interior with attendants, Kṛṣṇa as divine visitor, delicate rendering of a luminous aura around Uttarā, narrative detail of the threatened lineage and its rescue."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अश्वत्थामास्त्रनिर्दग्धम् → अश्वत्थामा + अस्त्र + निर्दग्धम्; उत्तरायास्ततो → उत्तरायाः + ततः; परीक्षिदभूत् → परीक्षित् + अभूत्; अभून्नृपः → अभूत् + नृपः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa: Parīkṣit lineage continuation passages; Agni Purana Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa stotra or avatāra sections (where Hari’s protective acts are praised)
FAQs
No ritual procedure is taught here; the verse conveys an itihāsa-based doctrinal point: divine intervention (Hari) preserves dharmic lineage by reviving a life destroyed by a weapon-astra.
It shows the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic scope by integrating Mahābhārata narrative history (dynastic continuity and key events) alongside its many other domains (ritual, polity, architecture, medicine, poetics).
The takeaway is that adharma-driven violence (weaponry used against innocents) is countered by divine protection of dharma; the preservation of Parīkṣit symbolizes the safeguarding of righteous rule and cosmic order.