Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 41
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
प्रद्युम्नादनिरुद्धोभूदुषापतिरुदारधीः बाणो बलिसुतस्तस्य सुतोषा शोणितं पुरं
pradyumnādaniruddhobhūduṣāpatirudāradhīḥ bāṇo balisutastasya sutoṣā śoṇitaṃ puraṃ
De Pradyumna naquit Aniruddha, à l’esprit noble, époux d’Uṣā. (Il y eut) Bāṇa, fils de Bali ; sa fille était Uṣā ; et Śoṇita était la cité de Bāṇa.
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic genealogy to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Genealogical anchoring for ritual recitation and historical-theological mapping: connects Pradyumna → Aniruddha, and links Uṣā–Bāṇa–Śoṇita, enabling listeners to place the Uṣā-Aniruddha episode within Yādava and Daitya lineages.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Yādava–Daitya linkage: Aniruddha, Uṣā, Bāṇa, and Śoṇita","lookup_keywords":["Aniruddha","Uṣā","Bāṇa","Bali-putra","Śoṇita-pura"],"quick_summary":"States Aniruddha as Pradyumna’s son and Uṣā’s husband; identifies Bāṇa as Bali’s son, Uṣā as Bāṇa’s daughter, and Śoṇita as Bāṇa’s city. Useful as a compact genealogical and geographic index for the ensuing narrative."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-nirdeśa (onomastic listing) with itihāsa-style brevity
Concept: Social order through recognized lineage and marriage alliances; narrative emphasizes legitimacy and relational duties.
Application: In traditional discourse: use genealogy to contextualize vows, inheritance, and responsibilities; in storytelling: introduce characters with lineage markers to clarify dharma roles.
Khanda Section: Vaishnava-Vamsha & Avataras (Genealogies and dynastic narration)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: srngara
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A genealogical tableau: Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Uṣā; Bāṇa identified as Bali’s son; the fortified city Śoṇita-pura indicated in the background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative panel with labeled figures: Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Uṣā; Bāṇa as imposing asura-king; stylized red-toned fort for Śoṇita-pura; bold outlines, traditional ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central couple Aniruddha–Uṣā with gold embellishments, side vignette of Bāṇa with regal crown, miniature fort depiction of Śoṇita-pura, rich textiles and halos where appropriate.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean didactic composition like a manuscript illustration: family tree feel with connecting cues, refined faces, palace and city details, emphasis on clarity over drama.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly portrait grouping with inscriptions, architectural rendering of Śoṇita-pura in distance, delicate borders, balanced palette, genealogical emphasis."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bihag","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रद्युम्नादनिरुद्धोभूदुषापतिरुदारधीः → प्रद्युम्नात् अनिरुद्धः अभूत् उषापतिः उदारधीः; बलिसुतस्तस्य → बलिसुतः तस्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana 12 (Uṣā–Aniruddha–Bāṇa cycle continues in 12.42–12.44)
FAQs
This verse primarily conveys purāṇic genealogical knowledge (vaṃśa-kathā): the lineage connection from Pradyumna to Aniruddha and the identification of Uṣā as Bāṇa’s daughter, along with Bāṇa’s capital Śoṇita.
By preserving dynastic and relational data—names, descent, marriage ties, and place-names—this verse functions like a historical-encyclopedic index within the Agni Purana, complementing its other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, architecture) with structured lineage narration.
Remembering and reciting sacred lineages connected to Viṣṇu’s family (the Yādavas) is traditionally regarded as purifying (puṇya-prada), strengthening devotion through remembrance of divine-associated dynasties and their celebrated narratives.