Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 5
पाण्डवचरितवर्णनम्
The Account of the Pāṇḍavas
इन्द्रलोके ब्रह्मलोके पूज्यते स्वर्गवासिभिः बलभद्रोनन्तमूर्तिः पातालस्वर्गमीयिवान्
indraloke brahmaloke pūjyate svargavāsibhiḥ balabhadronantamūrtiḥ pātālasvargamīyivān
Trong cõi Indra và cõi Brahmā, Balabhadra—mang hình tướng của Ananta—được chư thiên nơi thiên giới tôn thờ; Ngài đã đi qua các cõi Pātāla và cũng đạt đến các tầng trời.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to sage Vasiṣṭha (listener)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Used in Vaishnava praise to connect Balabhadra with Ananta and to map divine worship across lokas; supports ritual recitation and theological instruction on cosmic hierarchy.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Balabhadra as Ananta: Worship in Indraloka and Brahmaloka; Loka-traversal","lookup_keywords":["Balabhadra","Ananta-mūrti","Indraloka","Brahmaloka","Pātāla"],"quick_summary":"Balabhadra is identified with Ananta and is praised as worshipped in higher worlds; the verse situates him across nether and heavenly realms, emphasizing cosmic pervasiveness and divine status."}
Concept: The divine form transcends and pervades multiple lokas; identity of Balabhadra with Ananta signals ontological continuity of divine supports of the cosmos.
Application: Strengthen bhakti by contemplating the deity beyond local geography—worship is valid and efficacious across all realms.
Khanda Section: Avataras / Vaishnava-Stuti (Puranic praise of divine forms and cosmic realms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Balabhadra envisioned as Ananta: a divine figure associated with the cosmic serpent, worshipped by devas in Indraloka and Brahmaloka, with visual hints of netherworlds and ascent to heaven.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Balabhadra with serpent symbolism (Ananta hood motif), devas offering flowers in a stylized celestial court, layered bands showing pātāla below and svarga above, bold traditional colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Balabhadra/Ananta central with gold halo and ornate jewelry, celestial worshippers (Indra/Brahmā’s attendants) in symmetrical arrangement, gold-leaf clouds and lotus motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: delicate depiction of loka layers—pātāla, earth, svarga—Balabhadra as Ananta bridging them; fine ornamentation, soft palette, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly celestial scene with detailed architecture for Indraloka/Brahmaloka, Balabhadra with subtle serpent-canopy, narrative border showing descent/ascent through realms."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इन्द्रलोके = इन्द्र-लोके; ब्रह्मलोके = ब्रह्म-लोके; स्वर्गवासिभिः = स्वर्ग-वासिभिः; बलभद्रोनन्तमूर्तिः = बलभद्रः + अनन्त-मूर्तिः; पातालस्वर्गमीयिवान् = पाताल-स्वर्गम् + ईयिवान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: cosmology/loka descriptions; Agni Purana: Vaishnava stuti passages on Ananta/Śeṣa (where present)
FAQs
The verse conveys devotional-ritual orientation (stuti/puja): Balabhadra, identified with Ananta-Śeṣa, is to be revered across the cosmic realms, emphasizing universal worship rather than a specific procedural rite.
It integrates theology with cosmography by mapping a deity’s veneration across lokas (Indraloka, Brahmaloka, Svarga, Pātāla), exemplifying how the Agni Purana combines devotional doctrine with a structured description of the universe.
By presenting Balabhadra/Ananta as worshipped in the highest worlds, the verse implies that honoring him aligns the devotee with universally sanctioned dharma and supports merit (puṇya) through devotion to a cosmic sustaining form.