Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 8
Chapter 9 — श्रीरामावतारकथनम् (Śrī Rāmāvatāra-kathanam) | Hanumān’s Ocean-Crossing, Sītā-Darśana, and the Setu Plan
रामो ऽस्य लक्ष्मणः पुत्रौ वनवासङ्गतौ वरौ रामपत्नी जानकी त्वं रावणेन हृता बलात्
rāmo 'sya lakṣmaṇaḥ putrau vanavāsaṅgatau varau rāmapatnī jānakī tvaṃ rāvaṇena hṛtā balāt
ৰাম আৰু তেওঁৰ ভ্ৰাতা লক্ষ্মণ—সেই দুজন শ্ৰেষ্ঠ ৰাজপুত্ৰ—বনবাসলৈ গৈছে; আৰু তুমি, ৰামপত্নী জানকী, ৰাৱণৰ দ্বাৰা বলপূৰ্বক অপহৃতা হৈছা।
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic/Itihāsa material to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Narrative recall of the Ramayana used for dharma-teaching: ideals of duty (forest-exile), marital fidelity, and the ethical urgency of rescue.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Sita-harana and Rama–Lakshmana Vanavasa (Ramayana synopsis)","lookup_keywords":["vanavasa","sita-harana","ravana","rama-lakshmana","janaki"],"quick_summary":"States the core crisis of the Ramayana: Rama and Lakshmana are in forest-exile and Sita has been abducted by Ravana. Serves as the narrative premise for later diplomacy, search, and war."}
Alamkara Type: Anukrama (narrative compression)
Concept: Dharma tested through adversity: exile, protection of spouse, and confronting adharma.
Application: Use the episode to teach steadfastness in vows, protection of dependents, and timely action against injustice.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Samgraha (Ramayana narrative synopsis)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Forest/Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A compressed tableau: Rama and Lakshmana in ascetic forest attire, while Sita is shown being seized and carried away by Ravana toward Lanka, conveying separation and urgency.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, stylized forest with lotus ponds; Rama and Lakshmana in bark garments with bows, Sita in red-gold sari, Ravana in regal demon-king form carrying Sita; dramatic but sacred composition, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights; central vignette of Sita-harana with Ravana’s ornate crown and jewelry, Sita’s halo-like prabhavali, Rama-Lakshmana in a side panel in vanavasa attire; rich reds and greens, embossed gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework and soft shading; narrative split-scene: left—Rama and Lakshmana walking in forest exile; right—Ravana abducting Sita; emphasis on facial expressions of shock and resolve","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape and architecture; Ravana’s aerial chariot implied, Sita abducted; Rama and Lakshmana in a wooded foreground; fine textiles, naturalistic trees, subdued palette with precise detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Raga Shubhapantuvarali (for pathos) or Raga Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रामोऽस्य = रामः + अस्य; वनवासङ्गतौ = वनवास + गतौ; अन्यत्र स्पष्ट-सन्धि न्यूनम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana Itihasa-samgraha sections on Ramayana and Mahabharata synopses; Agni Purana chapters on dharma of kings (raja-dharma) as contextual frame for Rama’s conduct
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as Itihāsa-samgraha, concisely stating the Ramayana situation—Rama and Lakshmana’s forest exile and Sita’s forcible abduction by Ravana.
By embedding a compressed Ramayana narrative inside a Purana, it demonstrates the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic method: it preserves dharma-oriented history (Itihāsa) alongside other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, poetics), giving readers a cross-disciplinary compendium.
The verse underscores dharma under adversity: exile and wrongful abduction become the moral backdrop for righteous conduct, patience, and the eventual restoration of order—key karmic themes repeatedly used in Purāṇic instruction.