Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 37
Description of the Royal Dynasties (राजवंशवर्णनम्) — Chapter Colophon and Transition
धृतरष्ट्रञ्च पाण्डुञ्च विदुरञ्चाप्यजीजनत् पाण्डोर्युधिष्ठिरः कुन्त्यां भीमश् चैवार्जुनस्त्रयः
dhṛtaraṣṭrañca pāṇḍuñca vidurañcāpyajījanat pāṇḍoryudhiṣṭhiraḥ kuntyāṃ bhīmaś caivārjunastrayaḥ
وأنجبَ دْهريتاراشترا (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) وباندو (Pāṇḍu) وكذلك فيدورا (Vidura). وأما باندو، فمن كونتي (Kuntī) وُلِدَ يودهيشثيرا (Yudhiṣṭhira) وبيما (Bhīma) وأرجونا (Arjuna) — هؤلاء الثلاثة.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic-epic genealogies to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Genealogical indexing of the Mahābhārata protagonists; clarifies parentage for ritual remembrance, narrative study, and dharma discussions around legitimacy and fraternal roles (including Vidura).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vyāsa’s Sons and Pāṇḍu’s Three Sons by Kuntī","lookup_keywords":["Dhṛtarāṣṭra","Pāṇḍu","Vidura","Kuntī","Yudhiṣṭhira"],"quick_summary":"Lists Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura as born through Vyāsa’s begetting, then enumerates Kuntī’s sons of Pāṇḍu: Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, and Arjuna. Serves as a compact lineage key for epic characters."}
Concept: Interplay of birth, duty, and social role: kingship succession (Dhṛtarāṣṭra/Pāṇḍu) and the dharmic counselor role (Vidura).
Application: Using lineage to interpret adhikāra (eligibility) and svadharma in epic ethics—why certain figures rule, counsel, or renounce.
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Vamsha–Anukramanika (Genealogies and epic lineages)
Primary Rasa: itihasa
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A structured family-tree scene: Vyāsa as sage at center; three sons—Dhṛtarāṣṭra (blind), Pāṇḍu (pale/ascetic-leaning), Vidura (ministerial bearing); then Kuntī with three princes Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Arjuna.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panel composition with Vyāsa seated, Dhṛtarāṣṭra shown with closed/whitened eyes, Pāṇḍu and Vidura beside him, Kuntī with three youthful princes, bold outlines and ornamental foliage borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Vyāsa with golden halo, royal sons adorned, Dhṛtarāṣṭra indicated as blind with stylized eyes, Kuntī and three princes in rich attire, heavy gold embossing on crowns and jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean genealogical layout with captions, subtle shading, court interior, Kuntī presenting the three sons, emphasis on clarity and didactic arrangement.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court-hall scene, Vyāsa as ascetic visitor, three princes seated, Kuntī behind a screen, delicate architectural details and naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धृतरष्ट्रञ्च = धृतराष्ट्रम् + च; पाण्डुञ्च = पाण्डुम् + च; विदुरञ्चापि = विदुरम् + च + अपि; पाण्डोर्युधिष्ठिरः = पाण्डोः + युधिष्ठिरः; चैव = च + एव; अर्जुनस्त्रयः = अर्जुनः + त्रयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 277.36 (Vyāsa as begetter); Agni Purana 277.38-40 (continuation: Mādrī’s sons, Abhimanyu/Parikṣit, Draupadī’s sons, Ghaṭotkaca)
FAQs
No ritual technique is taught here; the verse transmits itihāsa-vamśa knowledge—an authoritative lineage summary used for dharma and historical contextualization.
By cataloging Mahābhārata-era dynastic relations (Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Pāṇḍu–Vidura and Pāṇḍu’s sons), it functions like a reference index—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark encyclopedic features.
Remembering and accurately transmitting sacred lineages (vamśa-smaraṇa) supports dharma by preserving the moral-historical framework in which exemplary conduct and its karmic outcomes are understood.