Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 27
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
चत्वारश् च सुता वभ्रोर्वासुदेवपरा नृपाः धृतिरिति ञ देवरातो ऽभुदिति ख , ग , घ , ज , ञ , ट , च विस्तृता इति क , छ , च कुहुरो भजमानस्तु शिनिः कम्बलवर्हिषः
catvāraś ca sutā vabhrorvāsudevaparā nṛpāḥ dhṛtiriti ña devarāto 'bhuditi kha , ga , gha , ja , ña , ṭa , ca vistṛtā iti ka , cha , ca kuhuro bhajamānastu śiniḥ kambalavarhiṣaḥ
And Vabhru had four sons—kings devoted to Vāsudeva. (In some recensions the name is read as) Dhṛti; in others it is Devarāta; and (in yet others) it is read as Vistṛtā. (Thereafter are mentioned) Kuhura, Bhajamāna, Śini, and Kambalavarhiṣ.
Lord Agni (narrating dynastic lists in the Agni Purana tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Genealogical listing plus recension-variants teaches both lineage mapping and textual awareness (pāṭhabheda), useful for paurāṇika recitation, manuscript collation, and identifying Yādava sub-branches devoted to Vāsudeva.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vabhru’s Sons and Pāṭhabheda Readings (Dhṛti/Devarāta/Vistṛtā)","lookup_keywords":["Vabhru","Vāsudevapara","Dhṛti","Devarāta","pāṭhabheda"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates Vabhru’s sons (devoted to Vāsudeva) and records variant readings of a name across recensions, then continues with additional lineage names."}
Alamkara Type: Śleṣa (implicit: name-variants and phonetic proximity)
Concept: Bhakti-lineage: rulers are characterized by Vāsudeva-paratā (orientation to Vāsudeva) as a defining virtue.
Application: Use lineage recitation as a devotional act (smaraṇa) and as a way to frame political power as accountable to dharma/bhakti.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anucharita (Genealogies of royal and Yadava lineages)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript-collation scene: a sage and scribes comparing palm-leaf manuscripts showing different name readings; beside them, Vabhru with four sons depicted as Vāsudeva devotees; continuation names shown as a branching chart.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: scribes with palm leaves, ink pot; name-variants in decorative panels; Vabhru and four sons with folded hands toward a Vāsudeva emblem; lineage vines branching.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted manuscript and stylus; Vabhru and sons with ornate crowns yet devotional posture; Vāsudeva symbol (conch-disc) in a gold aureole; labeled cartouches for variants.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear didactic composition—two manuscripts side by side with highlighted differing names; a teacher pointing; lineage chart continuing to Kuhura, Bhajamāna, Śini, Kambalavarhiṣ.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholars in a library pavilion comparing manuscripts; marginal notes showing variant readings; in a framed inset, Vabhru’s family tree with devotional gesture toward Vāsudeva."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चत्वारश् च = चत्वारः + च; वभ्रोर्वासुदेवपरा = वभ्रोः + वासुदेवपराः; देवरातो ऽभूत् = देवरातः + अभूत्; भजमानस्तु = भजमानः + तु. Note: the sequence “ञ ... ख, ग, घ...” appears to be manuscript/edition markers; treated as non-lexical and omitted from pada list.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 274 (continued Yādava genealogies and associated praise/transition verses)
FAQs
This verse primarily transmits vamsha-vidya (dynastic cataloguing): it records lineage names and notes variant manuscript readings, rather than prescribing a ritual or medical technique.
By preserving genealogical data alongside devotional identifiers ("devoted to Vāsudeva") and acknowledging recension-variants, it functions like a reference register—one of the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic modes of organizing cultural memory.
The explicit note that these rulers are Vāsudeva-parāḥ frames kingship as ideally aligned with bhakti; remembering or reciting such lineages is traditionally treated as punya-generating because it preserves dharmic history and devotion-centered exemplars.