Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 13
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
स्वाहापुत्रओ रुषद्गुश् च तस्य चित्ररथः सुतः शशविन्दुश्चित्ररथाच्चक्रवर्ती हरौ रतः
svāhāputrao ruṣadguś ca tasya citrarathaḥ sutaḥ śaśavinduścitrarathāccakravartī harau rataḥ
Ruṣadgu was the son of Svāhā. His son was Citraratha. From Citraratha was born Śaśavindu— a cakravartin, an emperor of universal sovereignty—devoted to Hari (Viṣṇu).
Lord Agni (narrating the Purana’s contents)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Dynastic memory for Itihasa-Purana study; model of ideal kingship (cakravartin) grounded in Hari-bhakti as a legitimizing ethic for rule.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ruṣadgu–Citraratha–Śaśavindu genealogy; cakravartin devoted to Hari","lookup_keywords":["Ruṣadgu","Citraratha","Śaśavindu","cakravartin","Hari-bhakti"],"quick_summary":"Records succession from Ruṣadgu to Citraratha to Śaśavindu, highlighting Śaśavindu as a universal emperor whose sovereignty is paired with devotion to Hari."}
Concept: Royal power (cakravartitva) is ideally harmonized with Hari-rati (devotion to Viṣṇu).
Application: Use as a normative lens in rāja-dharma: governance gains stability when anchored in dharmic devotion rather than mere conquest.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-anucharita (Genealogies and royal lineages)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal genealogy tableau: Ruṣadgu and Citraratha presented as predecessors, culminating in Śaśavindu as cakravartin, shown offering reverence to Hari (Viṣṇu).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors; central cakravartin king Śaśavindu with royal parasol and attendants, hands in añjali toward standing Viṣṇu with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma; genealogical elders behind as smaller figures; ornate floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf; Śaśavindu enthroned with cakravartin emblems (chatra, chowries), richly jeweled; Viṣṇu in a small sanctum-like aureole with heavy gold work; inscriptions of names Ruṣadgu, Citraratha, Śaśavindu.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework; didactic genealogy composition with labeled figures; Śaśavindu shown performing pūjā to Viṣṇu; subdued palette and fine ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scene; emperor Śaśavindu in durbar with halo, offering to a blue-hued Viṣṇu icon; genealogical scroll motif in the margin; detailed textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svāhāputrao → svāhāputraḥ (visarga restoration); śaśavinduś citrarathāt ca → śaśavinduḥ citrarathāt ca; citrarathāccakravartī → citrarathāt ca cakravartī.
Related Themes: Agni Purana genealogical sections (Vamśa-anucarita) surrounding 274.13–274.17
FAQs
This verse transmits genealogical-royal knowledge (vamśa-vidyā): it records lineage succession and identifies Śaśavindu as a cakravartin devoted to Hari (Viṣṇu).
By preserving dynastic data—names, descent, and kingly status (cakravartin)—the Agni Purana functions as a historical-cultural index alongside its ritual, legal, and philosophical sections.
It highlights that even a world-emperor’s excellence is ideally crowned by bhakti—devotion to Hari—presenting devotion as a superior spiritual orientation within royal life.