Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 28
Chapter 9 — श्रीरामावतारकथनम् (Śrī Rāmāvatāra-kathanam) | Hanumān’s Ocean-Crossing, Sītā-Darśana, and the Setu Plan
गतस्तिरस्कृतो भ्रात्रा रावणेन दुरात्मना रामाय देहि सीतां त्व मित्युक्तेनासहायवान्
gatastiraskṛto bhrātrā rāvaṇena durātmanā rāmāya dehi sītāṃ tva mityuktenāsahāyavān
لما ازدرى به أخوه رافَنا ذو النفس الخبيثة، مضى راحلاً بعد أن قيل له: «أنتَ سلِّم سيتا إلى راما»، فصار بلا ناصر ولا سند.
Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ethical-political discernment: how counsel, loyalty, and righteous dissent function in governance and family conflict.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vibhishana Spurned by Ravana; Counsel to Return Sita","lookup_keywords":["Vibhishana","Ravana","Sita return","righteous counsel","exile"],"quick_summary":"Vibhīṣaṇa advises returning Sītā to Rāma; Rāvaṇa rejects him, leading to Vibhīṣaṇa’s isolation and departure—an exemplar of dharmic counsel versus adharmic obstinacy."}
Alamkara Type: Visheshokti (implied moral contrast)
Concept: Satya-vākya and dharmic counsel may be rejected by the adharmic; one should not abandon righteousness for kinship or fear.
Application: In leadership and family disputes, uphold ethical counsel even at personal cost; withdraw from unjust systems when reform is impossible.
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Ramayana-katha (Narrative Section: Ramayana episode within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vibhīṣaṇa, rejected by Rāvaṇa, departs Laṅkā after urging the return of Sītā to Rāma; a tense court scene turning into solitary exile.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Ravana in regal court with rakshasa ministers, Vibhishana standing calm with folded hands, expressive eyes; dramatic red-gold palette, ornate jewelry, stylized architecture of Lanka; moment of rejection and departure.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: Ravana enthroned with heavy gold embellishment, Vibhishana at the edge holding a gesture of counsel; rich brocade, gold leaf highlights, temple-like arch framing the court; emphasis on moral contrast through halos and posture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: narrative panel showing Vibhishana advising, then stepping away from the court; delicate linework, muted colors, clear facial expressions; captions-like clarity for didactic storytelling.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed palace interior, Ravana on jeweled throne, Vibhishana turned away mid-step; fine textiles, architectural perspective, attendants reacting; restrained but tense courtly realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gatastiraskṛto → gataḥ tiraskṛtaḥ; tvam ity uktena → tvam iti uktena; uktena asahāyavān → uktena asahāyavān (no further change).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 9 (Sundara-kanda summary context); Agni Purana 10 (Rama-avatara continuation)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse conveys ethical counsel in an Itihāsa narrative—urging the return of Sītā to Rāma and showing the consequence of rejecting good advice.
By embedding Itihāsa (Ramayana) material alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium; this verse exemplifies its narrative-ethical layer that teaches dharma through exemplars.
Rejecting righteous counsel and persisting in adharma leads to isolation and downfall, while the instruction to restore what is unlawfully taken aligns with dharma and mitigates destructive karma.