Chapter 4
वराह-नृसिंह-वामन-परशुरामावतारवर्णनम
Agni Purana, Chapter 4: varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam
Shlokas (20)
+ Add ShlokaChapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 1
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 1
अवतारं वराहस्य वक्ष्ये ऽहं पापनाशनम । हिरण्याक्षो ऽसुरेशो ऽभूत देवान जित्वा दिवि स्थितः ।।
avatāraṃ varāhasya vakṣye 'haṃ pāpanāśanam | hiraṇyākṣo 'sureśo 'bhūt devān jitvā divi sthitaḥ ||
I will tell of the boar incarnation that destroys sins. Hiranyaksha became lord of the asuras; having defeated the gods he stood in the sky.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 2
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 2
देवैर गत्वा स्तुतो विष्णुर यज्ञरूपो वराहकः । अभूत, तं दानवं हत्वा दैत्यैः साकञ्च कण्टकम ।।
devair gatvā stuto viṣṇur yajñarūpo varāhakaḥ | abhūt, taṃ dānavaṃ hatvā daityaiḥ sākañca kaṇṭakam ||
Having gone to the gods, Vishnu in the form of the sacrificial boar was praised. Slaying that demon, with the daityas he became thorn-studded (i.e., engaged with them).
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 3
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 3
धर्मदेवादिरक्षाकृत ततः सो ऽन्तर्दधे हरिः । हिरण्याक्षस्य वै भ्राता हिरण्यकशिपुस तथा ।।
dharmadevādirakṣākṛt tataḥ so 'ntardadhe hariḥ | hiraṇyākṣasya vai bhrātā hiraṇyakaśipus tathā ||
Dharmadeva and others made protection; then Hari placed them within. Hiranyaksha indeed had a brother, likewise Hiranyakashipu.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 4
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 4
जितदेवयज्ञभागः सर्वदेवाधिकारकृत । नारसिंहवपुः कृत्वा तं जघान सुरैः सह ।।
jitadevayajñabhāgaḥ sarvadevādhikārakṛt | nārasiṃhavapuḥ kṛtvā taṃ jaghāna suraiḥ saha ||
Victorious in the sacrifice and master of all the gods, Narasiṃha assumed form and slew him together with the gods.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 5
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 5
स्वपदस्थान सुरांश चक्रे नारसिंहः सुरैः स्तुतः । देवासुरे पुरा युद्धे बलिप्रभृतिभिः सुराः ।।
svapadasthān surāṃś cakre nārasiṃhaḥ suraiḥ stutaḥ | devāsure purā yuddhe baliprabhṛtibhiḥ surāḥ ||
Placing the gods in their own seats, Narasiṃha was praised by the gods. In the ancient battle of gods and demons they, with Bali and others of prowess, had fought.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 6
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 6
जिताः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टा हरिं वै शरणं गताः । सुराणामभयं दत्वा अदित्या कश्यपेन च ।।
jitāḥ svargātparibhraṣṭā hariṃ vai śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ | surāṇāmabhayaṃ datvā adityā kaśyapena ca ||
Ousted from heaven, they sought refuge in Hari. Granting the gods safety, the Adityas and Kaśyapa also did so.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 7
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 7
स्तुतो ऽसौ वामनो भूत्वा ह्य अदित्यां स क्रतुं ययौ । बलेः श्रीयजमानस्य, राजद्वारे ऽगृणात श्रुतिं ।।
stuto 'sau vāmano bhūtvā hy adityāṃ sa kratuṃ yayau | baleḥ śrīyajamānasya, rājadvāre 'gṛṇāt śrutiṃ ||
Praised, he became Vāmana and went to perform the sacrifice at Aditi's. From the strength of the worshipper’s prosperity, at the royal gate he proclaimed the ritual.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 8
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 8
देवान पठन्तं तं श्रुत्वा वामनं वरदो ऽब्रवीत । निवारितो ऽपि शुक्रेण बलिर ब्रूहि यद इच्छसि ।।
devān paṭhantaṃ taṃ śrutvā vāmanaṃ varado 'bravīt | nivārito 'pi śukreṇa balir brūhi yad icchasi ||
Hearing the gods recite Vāmana the boon-giver said: 'Though prevented by Śukra, Bali, tell what you desire.'
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 9
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 9
तत्ते ऽहं सम्प्रदास्यामि, वामनो बलिमब्रवीत । पदत्रयं हि गुर्वर्थं देहि दास्ये तमब्रवीत ।।
tatte 'haṃ sampradāsyāmi, vāmano balimabravīt | padatrayaṃ hi gurvarthaṃ dehi dāsye tamabravīt ||
Vamana said, “Then I will give it back to you.” Bali replied, “Grant me the three steps of land; I will give myself as your servant — for the sake of the great.”
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 10
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 10
तोये तु पतिते हस्ते वामनो ऽभूदवामनः । भूर्लोकं स भुवर्लोकं स्वर्लोकञ्च पदत्रयं ।।
toye tu patite haste vāmano 'bhūdavāmanaḥ | bhūrlokaṃ sa bhuvarlokaṃ svarlokañca padatrayaṃ ||
When the water flowed into his upstretched hand, Vamana became indeed Vamana. He took the three worlds — earth, atmosphere and heaven — as his three steps.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 11
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 11
चक्रे बलिञ्च सूतलं तच्छक्राय ददौ हरिः । शक्रो देवैर हरिं स्तुत्वा भुवनेशः सुखी त्वभूत ।।
cakre baliñca sūtalaṃ tacchakrāya dadau hariḥ | śakro devair hariṃ stutvā bhuvaneśaḥ sukhī tvabhūt ||
He made Bali and Sutala (the underworld); Hari then gave that realm to Indra. Praising Hari, Indra became happy and lord of the world.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 12
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 12
वक्ष्ये परशुरामस्य चावतारं शृणु द्विज । उद्धतान क्षत्रियान मत्वा भूभारहरणाय सः ।।
vakṣye paraśurāmasya cāvatāraṃ śṛṇu dvija | uddhatān kṣatriyān matvā bhūbhāraharaṇāya saḥ ||
Hear, twice-born, of Parashurama’s incarnation. Considering the proud Kshatriyas uplifted, he came to seize the burden of the earth.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 13
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 13
अवतीर्णो हरिः शान्त्यै देवविप्रादिपालकः । जमदग्ने रेणुकायां भार्गवः शस्त्रपारगः ।।
avatīrṇo hariḥ śāntyai devaviprādipālakaḥ | jamadagne reṇukāyāṃ bhārgavaḥ śastrapāragaḥ ||
Hari descended to bring peace, protector of gods, brahmanas and kings. In Renuka’s lineage he was Bhargava, skilled in weapons, wielder of the axe (Parashu).
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 14
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 14
दत्तात्रेयप्रसादेन कार्त्तवीर्यो नृपस्त्वभृत । सहस्रबाहुः सर्वोर्वी-पतिः स मृगयां गतः ।।
dattātreyaprasādena kārttavīryo nṛpastvabhṛt | sahasrabāhuḥ sarvorvī-patiḥ sa mṛgayāṃ gataḥ ||
By Dattatreya’s grace the mighty Kārtavīrya, the king, with a thousand arms and lord of all, went out on a hunt.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 15
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 15
श्रान्तो निमन्त्रितो ऽरण्ये मुनिना जमदग्निना । कामधेनुप्रभावेण भोजितः सबलो नृपः ।।
śrānto nimantrito 'raṇye muninā jamadagninā | kāmadhenuprabhāveṇa bhojitaḥ sabalo nṛpaḥ ||
Weary, he was invited into the forest by the sage Jamadagni; nourished by the influence of the wish-granting cow, the strong king partook (of food).
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 16
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 16
अप्रार्थयत कामधेनुं यदा स न ददौ तदा । हृतवानथ रामेण शिरश्छित्वा निपातितः ।।
aprārthayat kāmadhenuṃ yadā sa na dadau tadā | hṛtavānatha rāmeṇa śiraśchitvā nipātitaḥ ||
When he did not give the wish‑cow what was asked, Jamadagni, enraged, cut off his head and struck him down with Rama’s (axe).
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 17
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 17
युद्धे परशुना राजा धेनुः स्वाश्रममाययौ । कार्त्तवीर्यस्य पुत्रैस्तु जमदग्निर्निपातितः ।।
yuddhe paraśunā rājā dhenuḥ svāśramamāyayau | kārttavīryasya putraistu jamadagnirnipātitaḥ ||
In battle the king’s axe struck the cow; Kārtavīrya’s sons fell by Jamadagni’s hand.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 18
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 18
रामे वनं गते वैराद अथ रामः समागतः । पितरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा पितृनाशाभिमर्षितः ।।
rāme vanaṃ gate vairād atha rāmaḥ samāgataḥ | pitaraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā pitṛnāśābhimarṣitaḥ ||
When Rama returned to the forest and saw his father slain, inflamed by grief for his father, he prepared for vengeance.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 19
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 19
त्रिःसप्तकृत्वः पृथिवीं निःक्षत्रामकरोद्विभुः । कुरुक्षेत्रे पञ्च कुण्डान कृत्वा सन्तर्प्य वै पितॄन ।।
triḥsaptakṛtvaḥ pṛthivīṃ niḥkṣatrāmakarodvibhuḥ | kurukṣetre pañca kuṇḍān kṛtvā santarpya vai pitṝn ||
Having measured the earth thrice, the ruler made it free of kings; in Kurukṣetra he made five tanks and thus honoured his ancestors.
Chapter 4 — varāha-nṛsiṃha-vāmana-paraśurāmāvatāravarṇanam — Verse 20
Agni Purana · Chapter 4 · Verse 20
काश्यपाय महीं दत्वा महेन्द्रे पर्वते स्थितः । कूर्मस्य च वराहस्य नृसिंहस्य च वामनं । अवतारं च रामस्य श्रुत्वा याति दिवं नरः ।।
kāśyapāya mahīṃ datvā mahendre parvate sthitaḥ | kūrmasya ca varāhasya nṛsiṃhasya ca vāmanaṃ | avatāraṃ ca rāmasya śrutvā yāti divaṃ naraḥ ||
Having given the earth to Kaśyapa and standing on Mount Meru, hearing of the incarnations—Kūrma, Varāha, Nṛsiṃha, Vāmana, and Rāma—a man attains heaven.