Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 1
Chapter 276 — राजवंशवर्णनम्
Description of Royal Lineages
पञ्चसप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः सुरासुरैर् अमन्थाब्धिमिति क , छ च देवासुरहरो ऽभवदिति क , घ , ञ , ट च अथ षट्सप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः राजवंशवर्णनं अग्निर् उवाच तुर्वसोश् च सुतो वर्गो गोभानुस्तस्य चात्मजः गोभानोरासीत् त्रैशानिस्त्रैशानेस्तु करन्धमः
pañcasaptatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ surāsurair amanthābdhimiti ka , cha ca devāsuraharo 'bhavaditi ka , gha , ña , ṭa ca atha ṣaṭsaptatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ rājavaṃśavarṇanaṃ agnir uvāca turvasoś ca suto vargo gobhānustasya cātmajaḥ gobhānorāsīt traiśānistraiśānestu karandhamaḥ
দ্বিশত পঁচাত্তরতম অধ্যায়ের নাম ‘দেব-অসুরদের দ্বারা সমুদ্র-মন্থন’; কিছু পাঠে ‘দেব-অসুর-সংহারক আবির্ভূত হল’ বলেও আছে। এখন দ্বিশত ছিয়াত্তরতম অধ্যায়—রাজবংশবর্ণনা—আরম্ভ। অগ্নি বললেন: তুর্বসু থেকে বর্গ জন্মাল; তার পুত্র গোভানু। গোভানু থেকে ত্রৈশানি, আর ত্রৈশানি থেকে করন্ধম জন্মাল।
Agni (narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Serves as a cataloging header and dynastic-genealogical record (rājavaṃśa) for historical memory, ritual recitation contexts, and Purāṇic chronology orientation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Turvasu lineage: Varga–Gobhānu–Traiśāni–Karandhama; and chapter colophons","lookup_keywords":["rājavaṃśa","Turvasu","Gobhānu","Traiśāni","Karandhama"],"quick_summary":"The verse functions as a transition into the royal genealogies, listing descendants of Turvasu and preserving recension-variant chapter titles for the preceding narrative."}
Concept: Purāṇic historiography: preservation of lineage (vaṃśa) as a vehicle for dharma, legitimacy, and continuity of social order.
Application: Use in vaṃśāvalī recitation, contextualizing kingship narratives, and mapping intertextual identities across Purāṇas.
Khanda Section: Rājavaṃśa & Itihāsa (Genealogies and dynastic history within the encyclopedic Purāṇic section)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Kingdom/Dynasty
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript-like scene: Agni as narrator (ṛṣi-form) recites a lineage list; a stylized genealogical tree or sequence of royal figures labeled Turvasu → Varga → Gobhānu → Traiśāni → Karandhama, with chapter-title colophon motifs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Agni-ṛṣi seated with palm-leaf manuscript; behind him a vertical lineage panel of crowned figures in sequence; decorative borders and script-like bands indicating chapter titles.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Agni as sage with radiant aura, gold embellishments; four royal portraits in medallions connected by gold vine lines; rich textile background, embossed labels implied.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional genealogy chart aesthetic; Agni pointing to a scroll showing names; soft colors, precise linework, minimal ornamentation with light gold accents.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scribe-like setting with Agni-ṛṣi dictating; attendants holding a scroll; small portrait vignettes of each king connected by lines; fine calligraphic borders and marginalia-like chapter headings."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bilahari","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: 'dhyāyaḥ = adhyāyaḥ (avagraha); surāsurair = sura-asuraiḥ; agnir uvāca = agniḥ uvāca (visarga sandhi); turvasoś = turvasoḥ; cātmajaḥ = ca + ātmajaḥ; gobhānorāsīt = gobhānoḥ + āsīt; traiśānistraiśānestu = traiśāniḥ + traiśāneḥ + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa chapter colophons and rājavaṃśa sections continuing after 276.1
FAQs
This verse imparts rājavaṃśa-jñāna (dynastic-genealogical knowledge): a structured lineage list used in Purāṇic historiography to situate kings and clans within sacred history.
By shifting from a cosmological/legendary topic (ocean-churning) into a catalog of royal genealogies, it demonstrates the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic scope—preserving mythic narratives alongside political-historical registers of dynasties.
Remembering and reciting righteous lineages is treated in Purāṇic tradition as smṛti-saṃskāra: it reinforces dharma-oriented kingship ideals and links worldly rule to sacred continuity, encouraging merit through remembrance of dharmic ancestry.