Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 23
Somavaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lunar Dynasty
द्रुह्यञ्चानूञ्च पूरुञ्च शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी यदुः पूरुश्चाभवतान्तेषां वंशविवर्धनौ
druhyañcānūñca pūruñca śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī yaduḥ pūruścābhavatānteṣāṃ vaṃśavivardhanau
Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, bore Druhyu, Anu, and Pūru; and among them, Yadu and Pūru became the foremost expanders of their respective lineages.
Lord Agni (narrating puranic genealogy to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Mapping political-historical lineage expansion: identifying which branches (Yadu, Pūru) become dominant for later royal narratives and statecraft exempla.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śarmiṣṭhā’s sons Druhyu, Anu, Pūru; Yadu and Pūru as lineage-expanders","lookup_keywords":["Druhyu","Anu","Pūru","Yadu","vaṃśa-vivardhana"],"quick_summary":"Names key progenitors and highlights the two branches (Yadu and Pūru) that most expand and dominate subsequent dynastic history."}
Concept: Collective memory (smṛti) of lineage is treated as a dharmic asset; ‘expansion’ implies responsibility to uphold kula-dharma.
Application: In narrative study, track ethical outcomes by branch (Yādava vs Paurava) to understand dharma consequences across generations.
Khanda Section: Purva-bhaga (Itihasa–Vamsha–Anucharita: Genealogies of kings and lineages)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stylized genealogy tableau: Śarmiṣṭhā with three sons (Druhyu, Anu, Pūru) and an emphasized branching path highlighting Yadu and Pūru as principal lineage expanders, shown as two flourishing trees or two radiant paths.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vaṃśa-vṛkṣa motif with two dominant branches labeled Yadu and Pūru, Śarmiṣṭhā in traditional attire presenting sons, decorative floral borders, flat earthy reds and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central golden genealogy tree with embossed gold for the two main branches, small medallion portraits of Yadu and Pūru, Śarmiṣṭhā as donor-figure at the base, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean diagrammatic genealogy with figure vignettes, emphasis on legible labels and branching, soft pastel palette and fine outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a court scribe painting a family tree on a scroll while Śarmiṣṭhā and princes stand nearby; two branches illuminated more brightly for Yadu and Pūru; intricate margins and calligraphy"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: druhyañcānūñca pūruñca = druhyam ca anūm ca pūrum ca; pūruścābhavatām = pūruḥ ca abhavatām; anteṣāṃ read as teṣām (sandhi/orthographic).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 274.1 (Yaduvaṃśa begins)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse transmits dynastic (vaṃśa) knowledge by naming key progenitors and identifying the principal lineage-expanders.
By preserving structured genealogical data—names, relationships, and dynastic prominence—this verse exemplifies the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic role as a compendium of itihāsa-purāṇa history alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences.
Genealogical remembrance in Purāṇas supports dharma by anchoring sacred history and exemplary royal lineages; recitation and understanding of such vaṃśa accounts is traditionally regarded as meritorious (puṇya) and identity-forming within dharma.