Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 17
Varāhādy-avatāra-varṇana
Description of Varāha and Other Incarnations
युद्धे परशुना राजा धेनुः स्वाश्रममाययौ कार्त्तवीर्यस्य पुत्रैस्तु जमदग्निर्निपातितः
yuddhe paraśunā rājā dhenuḥ svāśramamāyayau kārttavīryasya putraistu jamadagnirnipātitaḥ
في القتال قُتل الملك بفأس باراشو (باراشوراما)، وعادت البقرة إلى آشرمها. غير أن أبناء كارتّافيرْيا قتلوا جامَدَغْني.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Shows escalation of vengeance: even after the offender is punished, retaliatory violence by kin perpetuates cycles; underscores protection of sages and consequences of kṣatriya rage.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Aftermath: Kāmadhenu returns; Jamadagni slain by Kārttavīrya’s sons","lookup_keywords":["Kāmadhenu-return","Jamadagni-vadha","Kārttavīrya-putrāḥ","Paraśurāma","vaira"],"quick_summary":"Though Paraśurāma kills the king and restores Kāmadhenu to the āśrama, the king’s sons murder Jamadagni—setting the stage for Paraśurāma’s larger retribution."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (contrast): restoration of cow vs murder of sage
Weapon Type: Axe (implied), swords/spears (princes implied)
Concept: Vaira (enmity) multiplies suffering; adharma against sages intensifies karmic consequence.
Application: Break cycles of retaliation; uphold protections for religious/neutral persons; establish restraint and reparative justice after conflict.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Puranic Narrative (Avatara/Anvaya Episodes; Kshatriya-Veeracharita)
Primary Rasa: Karuṇa
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Type: Forest hermitage
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kāmadhenu walks back to the hermitage while Jamadagni lies slain; armed princes stand as perpetrators, the forest āśrama in the background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: poignant tableau—Kāmadhenu returning with gentle gaze; Jamadagni fallen near sacred fire; princes with harsh expressions; strong color symbolism (calm greens vs violent reds).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: devotional yet tragic—Kāmadhenu luminous with gold accents; Jamadagni depicted with serene face even in death; princes smaller, darker tones; gold leaf on āśrama elements.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear narrative composition—foreground cow moving toward hut; midground fallen sage; background princes departing; soft palette, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed forest hermitage with utensils, deer and birds; cow in motion; dramatic but restrained depiction of death; princes in courtly attire with weapons."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वाश्रममाययौ = स्व + आश्रमम् + आययौ (अ+आ→आ); पुत्रैस्तु = पुत्रैः + तु (विसर्ग→स्); जमदग्निर्निपातितः = जमदग्निः + निपातितः (विसर्ग-लोप).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 4.18 (Paraśurāma returns and grieves); Agni Purana narratives of Paraśurāma’s kṣatriya-nigraha (elsewhere)
FAQs
No ritual procedure is taught here; the verse transmits Itihasa-Puranic narrative knowledge—linking martial action (battle) with the consequential killing of a sage, a key trigger for later dharmic retribution.
Alongside its ritual, polity, and scientific sections, the Agni Purana preserves genealogical and moral-historical narratives; this verse exemplifies how it integrates epic-style history (kings, sages, conflicts) to contextualize dharma, kingship, and the ethics of violence.
The killing of Jamadagni (a brahmarṣi) is presented as a grave adharma that generates powerful karmic backlash, setting the moral basis for subsequent acts of vengeance and the restoration of dharmic order.