Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 2
Chapter 16 — बुद्धाद्यवतारकथनम्
Narration of Buddha and Other Incarnations
रक्ष रक्षेति शरणं वदन्तो जग्मुरीश्वरम् मायमोहस्वरुपोसौ शुद्धोदनसुतो ऽभवत्
rakṣa rakṣeti śaraṇaṃ vadanto jagmurīśvaram māyamohasvaruposau śuddhodanasuto 'bhavat
Kêu lên: “Hãy che chở! Hãy che chở!” và xưng (Ngài) là nơi nương tựa, họ đến gần Đấng Tối Thượng. Chính Ngài, mang hình tướng Māyā-moha (ảo huyễn và mê hoặc), đã trở thành con của Śuddhodana.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic history to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Explains the avatāra’s assumed role (Māyā-moha) and birth as Śuddhodana’s son; used to interpret sectarian history through purāṇic theodicy.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Māyā-moha-rūpa Buddha (Śuddhodana-suta)","lookup_keywords":["Māyāmoha","Śuddhodana","Buddhāvatāra","śaraṇāgati","deva-prārthanā"],"quick_summary":"Devas seek refuge in the Lord; he manifests as Māyā-moha and is born as Śuddhodana’s son—presenting Buddha as a divine manifestation with a specific cosmic function."}
Alamkara Type: Ukti (direct cry) and śaraṇāgati-vākya
Concept: Īśvara’s māyā can assume forms to accomplish cosmic ends; śaraṇāgati invokes divine response.
Application: Cultivate śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) in crisis; discern that appearances (māyā) may serve larger dharmic teleology in purāṇic worldview.
Khanda Section: Avataras and Sacred Histories (Buddha-avatara narrative within Purana-itihasa)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Devas, frightened, cry ‘Protect!’ and approach the Lord; the Lord manifests as Māyā-moha and takes birth as Śuddhodana’s son, suggesting a divine descent into a royal household.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, devas with folded hands in anxious posture before a radiant Lord, transition panel showing a serene princely infant/young ascetic with a subtle veil-like aura indicating māyā, stylized palace of Kapilavastu, rich reds/ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Lord granting refuge with gold halo, side vignette of royal palace and infant prince, heavy gold work on crowns and palace arches, devotional symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, narrative clarity: devas pleading at top, below a palace scene with Śuddhodana and the newborn, delicate shading, restrained ornamentation, symbolic mist around the child to denote Māyā-moha","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined court scene of Śuddhodana’s palace with attendants, juxtaposed with a celestial assembly of devas petitioning, detailed textiles and architecture, subtle luminous effect around the child"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जग्मुरीश्वरम् = जग्मुः ईश्वरम्; स्वरुपोसौ = स्वरूपः असौ; सुतोऽभवत् = सुतः अभवत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 16.3–16.4 (effect of māyā-moha: delusion and sect formation)
FAQs
It conveys a doctrinal point rather than a ritual: beings seek “śaraṇa” (refuge) in the Lord, who can manifest a specific form (māyā-moha-svarūpa) to accomplish a cosmic purpose.
It exemplifies the Purana’s coverage of avatāra-histories and theological categories (īśvara, māyā, moha), integrating sacred genealogy (Śuddhodana) with metaphysical explanation—one strand of its wide-ranging compendium.
The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): turning to the Lord for protection is portrayed as the decisive spiritual act, while also warning that divine māyā can appear as bewilderment for world-ordering ends.