Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 1
Chapter 275 — द्वादशसङ्ग्रामाः
The Twelve Battles
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे यदुवंशवर्णनं नाम चतुःसप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ पञ्चसप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः द्वादशसङ्ग्रामाः अग्निर् उवाच कश्यपो वसुदेवो ऽभूद्देवकी चादितिर्वरा देवक्यां वसुदेवात्तु कृष्णो ऽभूत्तपसान्वितः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe yaduvaṃśavarṇanaṃ nāma catuḥsaptatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha pañcasaptatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dvādaśasaṅgrāmāḥ agnir uvāca kaśyapo vasudevo 'bhūddevakī cāditirvarā devakyāṃ vasudevāttu kṛṣṇo 'bhūttapasānvitaḥ
至此，《阿耆尼大往世书》中名为“阎度族系之叙述”的第二百七十四章告终。今起第二百七十五章，名为“十二战”。阿耆尼言曰：迦叶波Kaśyapa化现为婆苏提婆Vasudeva，而高贵的提婆姬Devakī即为阿底提Aditi。于提婆姬之胎，由婆苏提婆而生黑天Kṛṣṇa——具足苦行之力tapas。
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Marks chapter colophon and narrative shift; provides avatāra-identification (Kaśyapa→Vasudeva, Aditi→Devakī) used in theological exegesis and in structuring recitation cycles.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Avatāra-identification and chapter transition: Kaśyapa–Aditi as Vasudeva–Devakī; Kṛṣṇa’s birth with tapas","lookup_keywords":["Kaśyapa Vasudeva","Aditi Devakī","Kṛṣṇa janma tapas","Dvādaśa-saṅgrāma","Agni uvāca"],"quick_summary":"Concludes the Yadu dynasty chapter and opens the ‘Twelve Battles’ chapter, stating the incarnational identities of Vasudeva and Devakī and affirming Kṛṣṇa’s birth endowed with tapas (spiritual potency)."}
Concept: Avatāra doctrine framed through cosmic correspondences: primordial progenitors (Kaśyapa, Aditi) manifest as human parents to facilitate divine descent; tapas signifies concentrated spiritual power enabling world-restoration.
Application: In discourse and study, interpret avatāra narratives through layered identities (cosmic-to-human) and treat ‘tapas’ as the operative spiritual force behind transformative action.
Khanda Section: Purana-Vamsha-Charita (Genealogies and Dynastic History: Yaduvamsha / Krishna-avatara context)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: City
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Split scene: a manuscript-like colophon band announcing chapter end/beginning; below, Devakī and Vasudeva with a radiant newborn Kṛṣṇa, with subtle celestial overlays showing Kaśyapa and Aditi as their higher identities; distant hint of impending battles (standards, drums).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top register with stylized palm-leaf manuscript colophon motif; central Devakī-Vasudeva with glowing infant Kṛṣṇa; faint celestial Kaśyapa-Aditi forms in the sky; side elements: war-drums and banners foreshadowing twelve battles; rich flat colors, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf emphasis on halos and the infant’s radiance; Devakī and Vasudeva seated, celestial Kaśyapa and Aditi above in small medallions; decorative inscription panel for chapter title; subtle battle emblems (conch, standards) at edges.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: clear title cartouche ‘Dvādaśa-saṅgrāmāḥ’; central birth scene; upper small portraits labeled Kaśyapa/Aditi; neat composition suitable for didactic manuscript illustration.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior with Devakī and Vasudeva, infant Kṛṣṇa luminous; marginalia-like text panel indicating chapter transition; sky medallions with Kaśyapa and Aditi; distant courtyard with soldiers and standards hinting at upcoming battles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye = iti + āgneye (vowel sandhi); 'dhyāyaḥ = adhyāyaḥ with avagraha after o; agnir uvāca = agniḥ + uvāca (visarga sandhi); vasudevo 'bhūt = vasudevaḥ + abhūt; bhūddevakī = abhūt + devakī (d doubling); cāditirvarā = ca + aditiḥ + varā; vasudevāttu = vasudevāt + tu (t + t → tt); 'bhūttapasānvitaḥ = abhūt + tapasānvitaḥ (t doubling).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 274 (Yaduvaṃśa-varṇana colophon); Agni Purana 275 (Dvādaśa-saṅgrāma narrative arc)
FAQs
This verse is primarily genealogical and narrative (vaṃśa/itihāsa framing): it links divine identities (Kaśyapa, Aditi) to the Yādava context (Vasudeva, Devakī) and introduces the chapter topic “Twelve Battles,” rather than prescribing a ritual procedure.
It demonstrates the Purāṇic method of integrating dynastic history, avatāra theology, and chapter-structuring colophons—showing how the Agni Purāṇa compiles lineage mapping alongside broader subjects across its chapters.
By presenting Kṛṣṇa as “tapasānvita” (endowed with ascetic-spiritual potency) and situating his birth within a sanctified lineage, the verse reinforces devotion and sacred history as merit-bearing contemplation (smaraṇa) for the listener/reader.