Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 4
Varāhādy-avatāra-varṇana
Description of Varāha and Other Incarnations
जितदेवयज्ञभागः सर्वदेवाधिकारकृत् नारसिंहवपुः कृत्वा तं जघान सुरैः सह
jitadevayajñabhāgaḥ sarvadevādhikārakṛt nārasiṃhavapuḥ kṛtvā taṃ jaghāna suraiḥ saha
Sau khi đã chiếm đoạt phần lễ tế của chư thiên và tiếm quyền thuộc về mọi thần linh, (Viṣṇu) liền mang thân tướng Narasiṃha và cùng với chư thiên giết kẻ ấy.
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic history to Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Frames the avatāra as restoration of yajña-order and legitimate divine authority; used in teaching dharma of protecting cosmic/social order against adhikāra-usurpation.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Narasiṃha slays the usurper of yajña-bhāga","lookup_keywords":["Narasiṃha","yajñabhāga","daitya-vadha","deva-adhikāra","Viṣṇu avatāra"],"quick_summary":"When a daitya seizes the gods’ sacrificial shares and authority, Viṣṇu manifests as Narasiṃha to remove the obstruction and restore yajña-based order."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (assumption of a form) with vīra-udātta narration
Weapon Type: Natural weapons (vajra-like nails)
Concept: Yajña-bhāga and deva-adhikāra symbolize rightful cosmic functions; usurpation invites avatāra intervention.
Application: Ethics of governance: do not seize institutional ‘shares’/rights; protect ritual/social order and legitimate roles.
Khanda Section: Avataras (Narasimha-avatara narrative / Daitya-vadha)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Narasiṃha manifests in a terrifying man-lion form and slays the daitya who had seized the gods’ sacrificial portions; devas stand around in awe and relief.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Narasiṃha with leonine face and flaming aura, dynamic slaying pose, devas in traditional ornaments witnessing, bold flat colors, sacred architectural framing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Narasiṃha central with gold-leaf halo and jewelry, subdued daitya at feet, devas in reverent poses, rich reds and greens, embossed gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, narrative panel of Narasiṃha’s manifestation and slaying, devas grouped to one side, emphasis on iconographic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly composition with dramatic action, Narasiṃha overpowering the daitya, devas as finely dressed figures, intricate textiles and landscape backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जितदेवयज्ञभागः = जित-देव-यज्ञ-भागः; सर्वदेवाधिकारकृत् = सर्व-देव-अधिकार-कृत्; नारसिंहवपुः = नारसिंह-वपुः
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Avatāra-kathā sections on Narasiṃha and Vāmana (same khanda sequence)
FAQs
It identifies the key ritual principle of yajña-bhāga—fixed sacrificial shares due to the devas—and frames their violation (usurpation) as a disorder that must be corrected.
Alongside narrative theology (avatāra-kathā), it encodes ritual-juridical ideas—rights to offerings (bhāga) and divine authority (adhikāra)—linking mythic events to the protection of sacrificial order.
It teaches that violating sacred distribution and divine entitlement in yajña leads to inevitable downfall, while restoration of dharma is upheld through divine intervention.