Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 34
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
भजमानस्य पुत्रो ऽथ रथमुख्यो विदूरथः राजाधिदेवः शूरश् च विदूरथसुतो ऽभवत्
bhajamānasya putro 'tha rathamukhyo vidūrathaḥ rājādhidevaḥ śūraś ca vidūrathasuto 'bhavat
ثم كان ابنُ بَجَمانا هو وِدُورَثَ، المتقدّم بين فرسان العجلات الحربية. وكان ابنُ وِدُورَثَ هو شُورَ، ويُعرف أيضًا باسم راجادْهِدِيفا.
Lord Agni (narrating the Purana’s contents to Vasiṣṭha in the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Identifying martial epithet and succession: ‘foremost among chariot-warriors’ helps map kshatriya roles and battlefield status in related narratives.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vidūratha—Rathamukhya; Śūra (Rājādhideva) in lineage","lookup_keywords":["Vidūratha","Rathamukhya","Śūra","Rājādhideva","Bhajamāna"],"quick_summary":"Records succession from Bhajamāna to Vidūratha and then to Śūra, noting Vidūratha’s chariot-warrior eminence—an index cue for martial reputation."}
Weapon Type: Chariot (ratha) warfare; bow implied by rathin status
Concept: Rajadharma continuity: kingship transmitted through lineage with recognized competencies (martial excellence).
Application: Read epithets as dharmic qualifications—competence and reputation support legitimacy.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anucharita (Genealogies of Kings / Royal Lineages)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A heroic chariot-warrior (Vidūratha) stands beside a decorated ratha while a bard announces his son Śūra (Rājādhideva) in a lineage recital.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic ratha with horses, warrior with bow and quiver, court bard in corner reciting genealogy, bold outlines and flat color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central chariot-warrior with ornate jewelry, gold work on chariot canopy, inscription-like name cartouches for Vidūratha and Śūra.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical depiction of chariot parts and harness, warrior posture demonstrating rathin readiness, soft palette and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant chariot scene with attendants, refined horse anatomy, calligraphed labels for names, courtly realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: putro 'tha → putraḥ atha (visarga before vowel, written with avagraha); vidūrathasuto 'bhavat → vidūratha-sutaḥ abhavat.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 274 (continuing Vamsha-Anucharita)
FAQs
This verse primarily transmits dynastic knowledge (vamśa-jñāna): the succession of kings and their epithets, identifying Vidūratha as a leading chariot-warrior and naming his son Śūra (Rājādhideva).
Alongside ritual, law, medicine, and warfare, the Agni Purana preserves historical-cultural data through genealogies—mapping royal succession, titles, and martial descriptors (e.g., rathamukhya), which function like a catalog of political memory.
Remembering and transmitting righteous lineages is treated in Purāṇic tradition as dharma-preserving: it supports continuity of rajadharma, honors ancestral merit, and reinforces ideals of heroic kingship (śaurya) aligned with duty.