Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 22
Sūryavaṃśa-kīrtana
Proclamation of the Solar Dynasty
धुन्धुमारास्त्रयो भूपा दृढाश्वो दण्ड एव च कपिलो ऽथ दृढाश्वात्तु हर्यश्वश् च प्रमोदकः
dhundhumārāstrayo bhūpā dṛḍhāśvo daṇḍa eva ca kapilo 'tha dṛḍhāśvāttu haryaśvaś ca pramodakaḥ
Il y eut trois rois portant le nom de Dhundhumāra ; puis (vinrent) Dṛḍhāśva et aussi Daṇḍa ; ensuite Kapila. Et de Dṛḍhāśva (naquirent) Haryaśva et Pramodaka.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Cataloguing repeated regnal names and branching succession; helps reconcile variant lists across recensions and supports accurate Purāṇic indexing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Sequence of kings: Dhundhumāra (three), Dṛḍhāśva, Daṇḍa, Kapila; descendants Haryaśva and Pramodaka","lookup_keywords":["Dhundhumāra","Dṛḍhāśva","Daṇḍa","Kapila","Haryaśva"],"quick_summary":"Provides a compressed dynastic catalogue noting three rulers sharing the epithet Dhundhumāra, followed by named successors and a descendant pair (Haryaśva, Pramodaka)."}
Concept: Saṅgraha-vidyā (systematic compilation): knowledge preserved through ordered lists and careful naming.
Application: Use as a reference spine for cross-checking genealogies across Purāṇas and for constructing teaching charts of the Solar dynasty.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Vamshanucharita (Genealogies of Kings)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lineage scroll showing successive kings’ names, with three medallions labeled Dhundhumāra, followed by portraits of Dṛḍhāśva, Daṇḍa, Kapila, and the next generation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, genealogical tree painted as lotus-vine with name-medallions, three repeated ‘Dhundhumāra’ circles, stylized royal busts, traditional border motifs, earthy reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, framed genealogy panel with gold-leaf medallions for each king, ornate crowns, symmetrical layout, temple arch border, emphasis on repeated Dhundhumāra medallions","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional chart aesthetic with painted portraits and connecting lines, labeled cartouches, soft pastel palette, manuscript-like clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, album-page style with circular portrait medallions and calligraphy naming each king, delicate floral margins, restrained colors"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dhundhumārāstrayaḥ = dhundhumārāḥ + trayaḥ; kapilo 'tha = kapilaḥ + atha; dṛḍhāśvāttu = dṛḍhāśvāt + tu; haryaśvaś ca = haryaśvaḥ + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 272 genealogical run (adjacent verses)
FAQs
This verse imparts genealogical knowledge (vamśānucarita)—a cataloguing of royal names used to preserve dynastic memory and succession order in Purāṇic historiography.
By enumerating rulers and succession, it functions as a reference index of lineages—one of the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic strands alongside ritual, polity, and other disciplines.
Remembering and reciting Purāṇic lineages is traditionally treated as a pious act supporting smṛti (sacred remembrance), continuity of dharma, and reverence for righteous kingship.