Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 1
Chapter 7 — रामायणवर्णनं (Description of the Rāmāyaṇa): Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara’s Defeat, and Sītā-haraṇa Prelude
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये रामायणे ऽयोध्याकाण्डवर्णनं नाम षष्ठो ऽध्यायः अथ सप्तमो ऽध्यायः रामायणवर्णनं नारद उवाच रामो वशिष्ठं मातॄञ्च नत्वातिञ्च प्रणम्य सः अनसूयाञ्च तत्पत्नीं शरभङ्गं सुतीक्ष्णकम्
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye rāmāyaṇe 'yodhyākāṇḍavarṇanaṃ nāma ṣaṣṭho 'dhyāyaḥ atha saptamo 'dhyāyaḥ rāmāyaṇavarṇanaṃ nārada uvāca rāmo vaśiṣṭhaṃ mātṝñca natvātiñca praṇamya saḥ anasūyāñca tatpatnīṃ śarabhaṅgaṃ sutīkṣṇakam
এইদৰে আদিমহাপুৰাণ অগ্নিপুৰাণৰ ৰামায়ণ-প্ৰসঙ্গত ষষ্ঠ অধ্যায়ৰ নাম “অযোধ্যাকাণ্ডবৰ্ণন”। এতিয়া সপ্তম অধ্যায় “ৰামায়ণবৰ্ণন” আৰম্ভ হয়। নাৰদে ক’লে—ৰামে বশিষ্ঠ আৰু মাতৃসকলক প্ৰণাম কৰি, অত্রিক নমস্কাৰ কৰিলে; অত্রিৰ পত্নী অনসূয়া আৰু শৰভঙ্গ আৰু সুতীক্ষ্ণকো ভক্তিভাৱে বন্দনা কৰিলে।
Narada
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Modeling maryādā (proper conduct): honoring gurus, elders, and ṛṣis before undertaking a difficult journey or vow.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rāma’s salutations to Vasiṣṭha, mothers, and forest-ṛṣis","lookup_keywords":["Rāma","Vasiṣṭha","Atri-Anasūyā","Śarabhaṅga","Sutīkṣṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames Rāma’s forest-journey as grounded in dharmic etiquette: he first bows to teachers, mothers, and ascetics. It functions as a conduct-template for seekers entering tapas or exile-like disciplines."}
Alamkara Type: Anukrama (enumerative listing)
Concept: Guru-mātṛ-pitṛ-ṛṣi-vandana as a prerequisite to righteous action.
Application: Before major undertakings (vrata, travel, study, initiation), perform respectful salutations and seek blessings to align intention with dharma.
Khanda Section: Ramayana-katha (Itihasa-varnana within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Āśrama
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma respectfully bows to Vasiṣṭha and the royal mothers, then to Atri and Anasūyā, and to the ascetics Śarabhaṅga and Sutīkṣṇa—an itinerary of reverent salutations before forest life.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, warm earthy palette, Rāma with bow slung but hands in añjali, Vasiṣṭha and royal mothers in palace setting transitioning to forest āśrama with Atri-Anasūyā, Śarabhaṅga, Sutīkṣṇa; ornate borders, calm śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halos, central Rāma in añjali, sages seated on kusa mats, stylized palace-to-forest backdrop, rich reds and greens, devotional reverence emphasized.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, sequential vignette panels: (1) Vasiṣṭha and mothers, (2) Atri-Anasūyā, (3) Śarabhaṅga and Sutīkṣṇa; instructional narrative clarity, soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court scene with Vasiṣṭha and queens, then a forest hermitage scene; delicate foliage, realistic textiles, Rāma bowing with restrained elegance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity ādi-…: इत्य् + आदि → इत्यादि (here kept as iti + ādi…); rāmāyaṇe 'yodhyā…: रāmāyaṇe + ayodhyā… with avagraha; ṣaṣṭho 'dhyāyaḥ / saptamo 'dhyāyaḥ: -o + adhyāyaḥ → 'dhyāyaḥ; mātṝñca → mātṝn + ca; anasūyāñca → anasūyām + ca; rāmokto → rāma-uktaḥ (taken as rāma-uktaḥ in next verses not here).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ramayana-khanda: Ayodhyākāṇḍa-varṇana (preceding adhyāya); Agni Purana Ramayana-khanda: subsequent forest-episode summaries
FAQs
The verse conveys dharmic protocol (ācāra-vidhi): honoring one’s guru, elders (mothers), and revered sages through namaskāra/pranāma before proceeding in sacred narrative or undertaking.
It shows the Agni Purana’s compendious method: alongside ritual and technical subjects, it embeds Itihasa (Ramayana) as a dharma-teaching module, framing ethical conduct through exemplary characters and revered lineages.
Offering reverence to guru, elders, and sages is presented as a purifier of intention and a merit-generating act that aligns one’s actions with dharma, enabling auspicious progress in spiritual and worldly duties.