Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 25
Śrīrāmāvatāravarṇanam (Description of Śrī Rāma’s Incarnation) — Ayodhyā Abhiṣeka, Vanavāsa, Daśaratha’s Death, Bharata’s Regency
या त्वं भार्या कालरात्री भरतो नेदृशः सुतः प्रशाधि विधवा राज्यं मृते मयि गते सुते
yā tvaṃ bhāryā kālarātrī bharato nedṛśaḥ sutaḥ praśādhi vidhavā rājyaṃ mṛte mayi gate sute
Du, meine Gemahlin, bist wie Kālarātrī; und Bharata ist kein Sohn von solcher Art. Wenn ich tot bin und der Sohn fortgegangen ist, regiere das Reich als Witwe.
A grieving king (narrative voice within the chapter; framed in Agni Purana’s instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Royal counsel on succession and regency; highlights the political-ethical crisis when the king foresees disorder after his death and the heir’s removal.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Widow-regency and succession anxiety (Ramayana court counsel)","lookup_keywords":["rajya","vidhava","uttaradhikara","kaikeyi","bharata"],"quick_summary":"Frames a succession crisis: the king anticipates his death and the heir’s absence, urging the queen to govern as a widow-regent—revealing the tension between personal grief, legitimacy, and state continuity."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Rajadharma under duress: continuity of governance despite personal catastrophe; the moral cost of intrigue and broken trust.
Application: In governance ethics, plan lawful succession/regency mechanisms to prevent instability when the ruler is incapacitated or dies.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Niti (Royal counsel, succession, and lament as political-ethical instruction)
Primary Rasa: Karuna
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dying king in the palace speaks harshly to the queen, calling her like Kalaratri, warning of the heir’s unfitness and urging widow-regency; courtiers watch in dread.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, Ayodhya palace interior, Dasaratha pale on a couch, Kaikeyi standing stern, dramatic red-black tonal contrast evoking Kalaratri, attendants with expressive eyes, flat decorative patterns, traditional temple-mural palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf palace arch, Dasaratha reclining with halo, Kaikeyi richly jeweled yet ominous, courtiers in symmetrical arrangement, embossed ornaments, deep maroon and green, devotional-royal mood with tension.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, subdued gold, narrative panel: king instructing queen about regency, inscriptions in Devanagari margins, calm but grave expressions, detailed textiles.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court scene with patterned carpets, Dasaratha on bolsters, Kaikeyi in profile, courtiers clustered, architectural jali windows, restrained palette, psychological realism and tension."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नेदृशः = न + ईदृशः. श्लोके ‘मृते mayi gate sute’ इति सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute) भावः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 6.26-6.29 (truth-vow, exile instruction, departure, dana)
FAQs
It conveys rajadharma as practical statecraft: continuity of administration even after the ruler’s death, including the concept of a widow-regent maintaining sovereignty when an heir is deemed unfit or has departed.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves political-ethical instruction; this verse exemplifies governance and succession concerns (legitimacy, capability of heirs, interim rule), showing its wide coverage of social order and kingship.
By prioritizing stable rule and duty over personal grief, the passage reinforces dharma: protecting subjects and preserving order is a meritorious obligation, and neglecting governance in crisis is implied to generate adverse karmic consequences for the household and realm.