Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 25
Chapter 10 — श्रीरामावतारवर्णनम्
Description of the Incarnation-Deeds of Śrī Rāma
धनुर्बाहूञ्छिरांस्येव उत्तिष्ठन्ति शिरांसि हि पैतामहेन हृदयं भित्वा रामेण रावणः
dhanurbāhūñchirāṃsyeva uttiṣṭhanti śirāṃsi hi paitāmahena hṛdayaṃ bhitvā rāmeṇa rāvaṇaḥ
حقًّا إنّ الرؤوسَ المقطوعة كانت تنهض من جديد كأنها أذرعٌ تمسك القوس؛ ولكن لما طعن راما قلبَه بسلاحِ «بايتاماهَا»، سقط رافَنا أخيرًا.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Teaches escalation against extraordinary opponents: when conventional decapitation fails (regenerative heads), employ a higher astra aimed at the vital center (hṛdaya).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Paitāmaha-astra and the hṛdaya-bheda of Rāvaṇa","lookup_keywords":["Paitāmaha astra","hṛdaya-bheda","regenerating heads","Rāvaṇa fall","astra escalation"],"quick_summary":"Rāvaṇa’s severed heads reappear, but Rāma pierces the heart with the Paitāmaha weapon, indicating the decisive use of a superior astra and vital-point targeting."}
Alamkara Type: Utprekṣā/Upamā-like imaginative comparison (heads rising like bow-arms)
Weapon Type: Astra (Paitāmaha); bow and arrow as delivery
Concept: Discernment (viveka) in action: apply the right means at the right depth; superficial victories may not end the root problem.
Application: In persistent problems, identify the root-cause ‘heart’ and address it with an appropriately powerful, well-directed intervention.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (War Narrative / Rama-Ravana Battle Episode)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāvaṇa’s severed heads appear to rise again; Rāma releases the radiant Paitāmaha weapon that pierces Rāvaṇa’s heart, ending the battle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic multi-headed Rāvaṇa with reappearing heads, Rāma releasing a luminous astra beam, stylized energy aura, intense reds and golds, divine radiance around the arrow’s path.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heavy gold work on crowns and weapon glow, Rāma with halo, the astra depicted as a golden flame-arrow striking the chest, ornate battlefield frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of the ‘heads rising’ motif and the heart-target strike, fine facial expressions, controlled palette, didactic clarity of the decisive aim-point.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intricate rendering of multiple heads and armor, a bright projectile line to the heart, attendants and battlefield detail, subtle shading to show shock and collapse."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धनुर्बाहूञ्छिरांस्येव = धनुः बाहून् शिरांसि इव (ञ्-आगम/अनुस्वार-सन्धि before ś); उत्तिष्ठन्ति unchanged; भित्वा is gerund from √भिद्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda/astravidyā discussions; Ramayana-katha climax verses
FAQs
It highlights Dhanurveda’s concept of specialized astras (divine missiles), specifically the Paitāmaha Astra, portrayed as a decisive weapon capable of ending otherwise regenerative combat.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves martial lore—naming astras, describing battlefield effects, and embedding weapon-science within a broader Purāṇic knowledge system.
The verse frames righteous force as effective when aligned with dharma: the divinely sanctioned astra, used by Rāma, symbolizes the triumph of cosmic order over destructive power.