Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 3
Chapter 276 — राजवंशवर्णनम्
Description of Royal Lineages
गाण्डीराच्चैव गान्धारः पञ्च जानपदास्ततः गान्धाराः केरलाश्चोलाः पाण्ड्याः कोला महाबलाः
gāṇḍīrāccaiva gāndhāraḥ pañca jānapadāstataḥ gāndhārāḥ keralāścolāḥ pāṇḍyāḥ kolā mahābalāḥ
From (the region called) Gāṇḍīra there is also Gāndhāra; thereafter are enumerated five territorial peoples: the Gāndhāras, the Keralas, the Colas, the Pāṇḍyas, and the Kola—all described as very mighty.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Reference for janapada-identification and traditional ethnogeography; supports historical-geographic mapping of regions/peoples in Bharata-varṣa and their perceived political strength.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Janapada List: Gāndhāra, Kerala, Cola, Pāṇḍya, Kola (Mahābalāḥ)","lookup_keywords":["Gāndhāra","Kerala","Cola","Pāṇḍya","janapada"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates five powerful territorial peoples/kingdoms; serves as a puranic gazetteer entry for Bharata-varṣa janapadas."}
Concept: Bhūgola-jñāna (knowledge of the inhabited world) as a component of puranic encyclopedism—knowing lands and peoples as part of dharmic polity and pilgrimage awareness.
Application: Helps a listener locate narratives, tirthas, and political entities; aids traditional commentators in correlating names with regions.
Khanda Section: Bhugola & Bharata-varsha—Janapada-nirdesha (Geography and lists of kingdoms/peoples)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stylized map of Bharata-varṣa with five highlighted regions labeled Gāndhāra, Kerala, Cola, Pāṇḍya, Kola; figures representing each janapada as mighty rulers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Bharata-varsha as a lotus-map, southern coast emphasized for Kerala/Cola/Pāṇḍya, northwestern corner for Gāndhāra, bold labels in Devanagari-style panels, iconic kings with crowns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, five crowned rulers in a row with gold halos and name plaques, each holding a royal emblem, ornate arch and gold work, deep saturated colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic cartographic panel with delicate outlines of India-like form, callout boxes for each janapada, gentle shading, scholarly presentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, imperial atelier map scene: cartographer and courtiers around a painted map, fine calligraphy naming the five regions, intricate borders and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गाण्डीरात् + च + एव → गाण्डीराच्चैव (t + c → cc); जानपदाः + ततः → जानपदास्ततः (visarga-less sandhi); केरलाः + चोलाः → केरलाश्चोलाः (visarga before c → ś).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Bhugola & Bharata-varsha—janapada-nirdesha passages listing rivers, mountains, and peoples
FAQs
This verse imparts geographical-historical knowledge (janapada-nirdesha): a structured listing of regions/peoples (Gāndhāra, Kerala, Cola, Pāṇḍya, Kola) used in Purāṇic mapping of Bharata-varṣa.
By preserving a compact gazetteer of janapadas, it functions like a reference index of polity and regional identity—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark encyclopedic features alongside ritual, law, medicine, and statecraft.
Its significance is indirect: knowing sacred geography and the traditional divisions of peoples supports Purāṇic worldview, pilgrimage-context (tīrtha/bhūmi awareness), and the cultivation of smṛti (remembered sacred history), which is treated as merit-bearing in Purāṇic tradition.