Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 20
Chapter 13 — कुरुपाण्डवोत्पत्त्यादिकथनं
Narration of the Origin of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, and Related Matters
अजयत्तस्य राज्यञ्च सभास्थो माययाहसत् जितो युधिष्ठिरो भ्रातृयुक्तश्चारण्यकं ययौ
ajayattasya rājyañca sabhāstho māyayāhasat jito yudhiṣṭhiro bhrātṛyuktaścāraṇyakaṃ yayau
Im Versammlungssaal sitzend gewann er auch das Reich durch Trug und lachte höhnisch. Der besiegte Yudhiṣṭhira ging mit seinen Brüdern ins Waldexil.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic-Itihāsa material to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s usual frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"राजधर्म-नीति में ‘माया/छल’ द्वारा राज्य-हरण की निन्दा, तथा आपद्-धर्म में वनवास-स्वीकार जैसी धर्मसंगत प्रतिक्रिया का आदर्श।","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"सभायां द्यूत-छलात् राज्यहरणं तथा पाण्डवानां वनवासः","lookup_keywords":["सभागृह","माया/छल","युधिष्ठिर","राज्यहरण","वनवास"],"quick_summary":"सभा में छलपूर्वक राज्य-हरण अधर्म का उदाहरण है; पराजित पक्ष का धर्मानुसार वनवास-स्वीकार राजधर्म/आपद्धर्म की कसौटी दिखाता है।"}
Concept: अधर्मजन्य लाभ (छल से राज्य) अन्ततः दुःख-हेतु; धर्मपालन हेतु कष्ट-स्वीकार।
Application: नीति-निर्णय में ‘उपाय’ (साम-दाम-दण्ड-भेद) की मर्यादा; अन्याय होने पर भी प्रतिशोध-आवेग के बजाय विधिसम्मत/धर्मसम्मत मार्ग चुनना।
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Katha (Mahabharata narrative exempla; Rajadharma context)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"राजसभा में द्यूत/छल का प्रसंग—सभा-आसन पर विजयी पक्ष का उपहास, और पराजित युधिष्ठिर का भ्राताओं सहित वन-प्रस्थान।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural, Mahabharata sabha scene, ornate pillars and lamps, Dhritarashtra court ambience, Yudhishthira with calm sorrow, Duryodhana laughing, Pandavas departing to forest, rich earthy pigments, traditional stylization","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, royal assembly hall with gold-leaf arches, central seated figures, expressive faces showing deceit and grief, Pandavas in regal yet subdued attire leaving toward stylized forest, heavy ornamentation and gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, narrative panel split: left court deception scene, right forest departure, delicate linework, muted colors, emphasis on moral contrast, inscriptions-like captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court interior with carpets and attendants, subtle expressions of mockery and defeat, Pandavas with travel bundles exiting, fine brushwork, architectural perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अजयत्+तस्य→अजयत्तस्य; राज्यं+च→राज्यञ्च; माया+या+अहसत्→माययाहसत्; भ्रातृयुक्तः+च+आरण्यकं→भ्रातृयुक्तश्चारण्यकं
Related Themes: Agni Purana Itihasa-katha sections summarizing Mahabharata (Sabha-parva, Vanaparva allusions)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as an ethical-political exemplum, highlighting how deceit in a royal assembly leads to the loss of sovereignty and enforced forest-exile.
By embedding Itihāsa (Mahābhārata) episodes, the Agni Purana teaches Rajadharma and political ethics through memorable case-studies—showing consequences of adharma (deceit, gambling) alongside its broader coverage of ritual, law, and governance.
The verse underscores karmic causality: adharma and delusion (māyā) in public affairs precipitate downfall, while accepting the result and undertaking exile signals endurance and the purificatory discipline of hardship.