Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 18
Chapter 275 — द्वादशसङ्ग्रामाः
The Twelve Battles
विश्वामित्रवशिष्ठात्रिकवयश् च रणे सुरान् अपालयन्ते निर्वार्य रागद्वेषादिदानवान्
viśvāmitravaśiṣṭhātrikavayaś ca raṇe surān apālayante nirvārya rāgadveṣādidānavān
وكذلك حمى فيشفاميترا وفَسِشْتَه والثلاثةُ من الشعراء‑الريشيين الآلهةَ في ساحة القتال، ودفعوا الدانافا الذين تحرّكهم الشهوةُ والبغضاءُ وما شابه ذلك.
Lord Agni (as narrator of the Purāṇic account, traditionally addressing Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Modeling the role of ṛṣis and poet-seers as protectors of social-cosmic order; using the narrative to teach control over raga-dveṣa as a cause of conflict.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ṛṣi-protection in battle: Viśvāmitra, Vasiṣṭha, and the tri-kavi repel passion-driven Dānavas","lookup_keywords":["Viśvāmitra","Vasiṣṭha","tri-kavi","rāga-dveṣa","Dānava"],"quick_summary":"The verse portrays seerly power and poetic/ascetic authority defending devas, while identifying rāga-dveṣa as the inner driver of asuric aggression."}
Alamkara Type: Dvandva/Enumeration (saṅkhyāna)
Weapon Type: Mantra (as spiritual weapon)
Concept: Rāga-dveṣa as the seed of adharma; protection of order comes from tapas, mantra, and equanimity.
Application: In conflict resolution, identify and reduce passion/hatred; cultivate disciplined speech and counsel (ṛṣi-model) to de-escalate and protect the community.
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Puranic Narrative (Deva–Asura Wars / Heroic Catalogues)
Primary Rasa: Vīra
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three ascetic figures—Viśvāmitra, Vasiṣṭha, and three poet-seers—stand before deva ranks, raising hands in mantra-gesture; waves of Dānavas recoil, their faces marked by anger and craving.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sages with matted hair and ochre robes, luminous aura; devas behind; dānavas pushed back by radiating mantra-lines; expressive eyes showing rāga-dveṣa, stylized weapons and clouds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, sages with gold-highlighted halos; central mudrā of protection; devas in ornate crowns; dānavas recoiling; decorative border with palm-leaf manuscript motif to hint ‘kavi’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine facial detail; five sages arranged symmetrically; subtle depiction of mantra-force as light; dānavas in disarray; instructional clarity in composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly-detailed battlefield; ascetics in foreground with calm expressions; dānavas driven back; careful rendering of textiles, banners, and a luminous aura around sages."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विश्वामित्रवशिष्ठात्रिकवयश् = विश्वामित्र-वशिष्ठ-त्रिकवयः; रागद्वेषादिदानवान् = राग-द्वेष-आदि-दानवान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: sections on mantra, ṛṣi-śakti, and stotra as protective means; Agni Purāṇa: itihāsa catalogues of sages and divine allies
FAQs
It conveys dharma-vidyā in narrative form: the protection of righteous order (Devas) and the identification of rāga and dveṣa as motivating forces behind adharmic aggression (Dānavas).
Alongside ritual and technical sections, the Agni Purana preserves itihāsa-style battle narratives that encode ethical psychology (rāga–dveṣa) and the role of ṛṣis as guardians of cosmic order—showing its breadth beyond ritual manuals into moral and mythic instruction.
The verse frames rāga and dveṣa as roots of destructive karma, while presenting protection of dharma as meritorious; restraining these afflictions aligns one with the Deva-like path rather than the Dānava-like path.