Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 8
Chapter 275 — द्वादशसङ्ग्रामाः
The Twelve Battles
अनिरुद्धस्य वज्राद्या यादवाः सुमहाबलाः तिस्रः कोट्यो यादवानां षष्टिर्लक्षाणि दानवाः
aniruddhasya vajrādyā yādavāḥ sumahābalāḥ tisraḥ koṭyo yādavānāṃ ṣaṣṭirlakṣāṇi dānavāḥ
ومن نسلِ أنيرودها كان اليادافا شديدو البأس—وفي مقدمتهم فَجْرَة (Vajra)—عددهم ثلاثُ كوطي؛ وكان الدانافا ستونَ لكشا.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s primary dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Using enumerations of forces (koṭi/lakṣa) to convey political-military scale, demographic imagination, and comparative power between clans (Yādavas) and adversaries (Dānavas).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aniruddha-vaṃśa bala-saṅkhyā: Vajrādi Yādavāḥ; Dānava-saṅkhyā","lookup_keywords":["Aniruddha","Vajra","koṭi","lakṣa","Dānava"],"quick_summary":"Gives a lineage-based roll-up of Yādava strength beginning with Vajra, and contrasts it with the counted number of Dānavas, framing cosmic-political balance through numbers."}
Alamkara Type: Sankhya (enumerative style)
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Purana Vamsha-Anucarita (Genealogies and heroic lineages; Yadava-Vamsha / battle enumerations)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A genealogical banner-like depiction: Aniruddha at center, with Vajra leading ranks of Yādava warriors; opposite them, a massed Dānava host, both sides annotated by symbolic numerals (koṭi/lakṣa).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symmetrical composition: Aniruddha enthroned/standing with bow-banner, Vajra at forefront; dense patterned ranks of Yādavas vs dark-toned Dānavas, bold outlines, ornamental borders, numeric motifs integrated as glyphs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Aniruddha with gold halo; Vajra and Yādava ranks rendered as repeating motifs; opposing Dānavas in darker hues; gold-leaf inscriptions indicating koṭi and lakṣa, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic chart aesthetic: lineage tree from Aniruddha to Vajra, with side panels showing troop blocks labeled '3 koṭi' and '60 lakṣa', fine lines and pastel washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic battlefield muster: orderly Yādava camp with standards and elephants/horses; opposite Dānava encampment; scribal cartouche noting troop numbers, intricate detail and perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vajrādyā → vajra + ādyāḥ (a + ā sandhi); ṣaṣṭirlakṣāṇi → ṣaṣṭiḥ + lakṣāṇi (visarga before l becomes r).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: vaṃśa lists and numerical catalogues in Itihāsa-Purāṇa sections; Agni Purana: deva–asura saṅgrāma catalogues where numbers function rhetorically
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as a quantitative register, enumerating the strength of the Yādava host under Aniruddha (with Vajra and others) and the opposing Dānava numbers.
By preserving lineage-linked historical memory and numerical cataloging of forces, it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic style—mixing genealogies, epic narrative data, and structured lists alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences.
Its primary value is śravaṇa-smṛti (hearing and remembering sacred history): recalling divine-associated lineages (Yādavas) and cosmic adversaries (Dānavas) supports dharmic orientation and reinforces the Purāṇic worldview of order versus disorder.