Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 8
Sūryavaṃśa-kīrtana
Proclamation of the Solar Dynasty
अत्र छायेतिपाठो युक्तः सुद्युम्नादुत्कलगयौ विनताश्वस्त्रयो नृपाः उत्कलस्योत्कलं राष्ट्रं विनताश्वस्य पश्चिमा
atra chāyetipāṭho yuktaḥ sudyumnādutkalagayau vinatāśvastrayo nṛpāḥ utkalasyotkalaṃ rāṣṭraṃ vinatāśvasya paścimā
এখানে ‘ছায়া’ পাঠই যথাযুক্ত। সুদ্যুম্ন থেকে উৎকল ও গয়, এবং বিনতাশ্ব—এই তিন রাজা হন। উৎকলের রাজ্য ‘উৎকল’ নামে পরিচিত, আর বিনতাশ্বর রাজ্য পশ্চিমদিকে ছিল।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Text-critical guidance (proper reading ‘chāyā’) aids accurate recitation, manuscript collation, and correct interpretation of genealogical geography.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Textual variant note: ‘chāyā’ reading; Sudyumna’s sons and regional realms","lookup_keywords":["chaya patha","Sudyumna","Utkala","Gaya","Vinatasva"],"quick_summary":"Gives a variant-reading decision (‘chāyā’ is correct) and lists three kings from Sudyumna with associated regional identifications (Utkala; Vinatāśva’s western realm)."}
Concept: Pramāṇa in tradition: correct pāṭha (reading) safeguards meaning; geography and genealogy are stabilized by philological care.
Application: For reciters and editors: prefer the indicated reading; for historians of tradition: note how realms are derived from eponymous founders.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anukramanika (Genealogies and Regional Kingdoms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe-scholar indicates the correct manuscript reading ‘chāyā’; beside him a map-like tableau shows three kings (Utkala, Gaya, Vinatāśva) with directional markers and labeled regions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated acharya with palm-leaf manuscript pointing to the word ‘chāyā’, stylized directional compass, three crowned figures labeled Utkala/Gaya/Vinatāśva, flat iconic geography bands.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, scholar with manuscript under a gold arch, three kings in medallions, Utkala region shown with temple/river motifs, Vinatāśva with a westward arrow, heavy gold ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic illustration: manuscript collation scene with clear Devanagari ‘छाया’, adjacent simplified map of Bharata-varsha with Utkala highlighted and west marked for Vinatāśva.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene of scribes comparing manuscripts, marginal cartouches naming Utkala and Gaya, a delicate compass rose indicating west for Vinatāśva’s realm."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: chāyetipāṭhaḥ = chāyā + iti + pāṭhaḥ; sudyumnādutkala- = sudyumnāt + utkala-; utkalasyotkalam = utkalasya + utkalam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana—puranic geography (dik-vibhaga) passages; vamsha lists of Sudyumna’s descendants
FAQs
It transmits genealogical and geopolitical knowledge—identifying descendants of Sudyumna and associating rulers with named regions (e.g., Utkala) and directions (the western realm of Vinatāśva).
Beyond ritual topics, the Agni Purana catalogs dynasties, rulers, and territorial designations; this verse preserves both lineage data and regional mapping, even noting a preferred manuscript reading.
Its significance is preservational: maintaining accurate remembrance of royal lineages and sacred history (itihāsa/purāṇa-smṛti), which the tradition treats as meritorious when studied and transmitted correctly.