Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 14
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
स धन्वी कवची जातस्तेजसा निर्दहन्निव पृथुर्वैण्यः प्रजाः सर्वा ररक्ष क्षेत्रपूर्वजः
sa dhanvī kavacī jātastejasā nirdahanniva pṛthurvaiṇyaḥ prajāḥ sarvā rarakṣa kṣetrapūrvajaḥ
वह धनुषधारी और कवचधारी उत्पन्न हुआ, मानो अपने तेज से (दुष्टता को) दग्ध कर रहा हो। वेनपुत्र पृथु—क्षेत्र-वंश में उत्पन्न—ने समस्त प्रजाओं की रक्षा की।
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic history to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Connects martial preparedness (bow, armor) with rajadharma: the king must be equipped to deter evil and protect all subjects.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Pṛthu born armed and armored; protector of all subjects","lookup_keywords":["dhanvi","kavaci","Pṛthu Vainya","praja-raksha","tejas"],"quick_summary":"The ideal ruler is depicted as innately martial—bow-bearing and armored—whose radiance ‘burns’ wrongdoing; his defining function is comprehensive protection of the people."}
Alamkara Type: Utpreksha (as though scorching with radiance)
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Kṣātra-tejas must serve prajā-rakṣa; power is justified only as protective duty.
Application: Statecraft: maintain defense capability and disciplined force oriented to citizen protection and rule of dharma.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Itihasa-Purana Narratives (Kingship, protection of subjects, exemplary rulers)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pṛthu appears as a radiant warrior-king, holding a bow and clad in armor, standing as guardian of the people; his aura seems to burn away evil.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, heroic Pṛthu with large bow, ornate armor, flaming aura, subjects behind him in orderly rows, bold contours, saturated reds/yellows, dynamic stance","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Pṛthu as regal warrior with embossed gold armor and halo, jeweled bow, symmetrical composition with attendants, rich gold work emphasizing tejas","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed rendering of bow and armor, instructional clarity of martial regalia, soft shading, dignified heroic posture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, warrior-king portrait with bow and lamellar armor, subtle halo, attendants and landscape, fine textile detail, poised authority"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"martial-heroic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jātastejasā → jātaḥ tejasā; nirdahanniva → nirdahan iva; pṛthurvaiṇyaḥ → pṛthuḥ vaiṇyaḥ; sarvā rarakṣa → sarvāḥ rarakṣa.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 18.15 (Pṛthu as first rajasūya sovereign)
FAQs
It conveys Rajadharma: the king’s practical duty is armed readiness (bow and armor) coupled with protective governance—guarding all subjects through valor (tejas) and deterrence of harm.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana preserves statecraft ideals through exemplary rulers like Pṛthu—embedding governance, social protection, and political ethics within Purāṇic narrative.
Protecting prajāḥ is presented as a dharmic act: the ruler’s tejas is not mere power but a purifying force that burns wrongdoing and earns merit by upholding order and welfare.