Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 24
Description of the Royal Dynasties (राजवंशवर्णनम्) — Chapter Colophon and Transition
सहदेवः सोमदत्तात् सहदेवात्तु सोमकः आसीच्च सोमकाज्जन्तुर्जन्तोश् च पृषतः सुतः
sahadevaḥ somadattāt sahadevāttu somakaḥ āsīcca somakājjanturjantoś ca pṛṣataḥ sutaḥ
من سُومَدَتَّ (Somadatta) وُلِدَ سَهَدِيفَ (Sahadeva)؛ ومن سَهَدِيفَ وُلِدَ سُومَكَ (Somaka). ومن سُومَكَ وُلِدَ جَنْتُو (Jantu)؛ ومن جَنْتُو وُلِدَ پْرِشَتَ (Pṛṣata) ابنه.
Lord Agni (narrating the Purana in discourse form)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Maintains dynastic continuity for later Itihāsa linkages (Somaka line leading toward Pṛṣata/Drupada context), aiding narrative mapping and ritual remembrance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Somadatta → Sahadeva → Somaka → Jantu → Pṛṣata succession","lookup_keywords":["Somadatta","Sahadeva","Somaka","Jantu","Pṛṣata"],"quick_summary":"Gives a straight succession chain from Somadatta to Pṛṣata through Sahadeva, Somaka, and Jantu. Useful as a quick lookup for the Somaka dynasty sequence."}
Concept: Vaṃśa as a mnemonic scaffold for dharma-history; identity and obligation traced through descent.
Application: Supports Purāṇic/Itihāsa pedagogy: students and reciters track who precedes whom in royal-sage lines.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anukramanika (Genealogies / Royal Lineages)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vertical lineage pillar with five figures in descending order: Somadatta, Sahadeva, Somaka, Jantu, and Pṛṣata—each in royal attire, connected by a stylized vine/scroll of descent.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stacked portrait registers, each king with distinct crown, connecting floral scroll, muted temple-wall palette, emphasis on symmetry and lineage flow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, five medallion portraits with gold halos, ornate borders, names inscribed, central lineage stem motif, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic genealogy with fine lines and labels, minimal background, clear succession arrows, soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, album-page style with five portrait roundels, delicate margins, calligraphy naming each successor, subtle landscape wash behind."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सहदेवात्तु = सहदेवात् तु; आसीच्च = आसीत् च; सोमकाज्जन्तुः = सोमकात् जन्तुः; जन्तोश् = जन्तोः
Related Themes: Agni Purana: next verse continues Pṛṣata → Drupada → Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Agni Purana: Somaka-related genealogical passages elsewhere in vaṃśa sections
FAQs
This verse imparts genealogical knowledge (vaṃśa-anukrama), preserving the succession of rulers for historical and dharmic record rather than a ritual procedure.
By documenting dynastic succession, it functions as a historical index within the Purana’s wider compendium—alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts—helping map traditions, legitimacy, and narrative continuity.
Remembering and reciting righteous lineages is traditionally regarded as smṛti-based merit (puṇya) that supports dharmic continuity and reverence for ancestral exemplars.