Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 22
Śrīrāmāvatāravarṇanam (Description of Śrī Rāma’s Incarnation) — Ayodhyā Abhiṣeka, Vanavāsa, Daśaratha’s Death, Bharata’s Regency
विषं पीत्वा मरिष्यामि दास्यसि त्वं न चेन्नृप तच् छ्रुत्वा मूर्छितो भूमौ वज्राहत इवापतत्
viṣaṃ pītvā mariṣyāmi dāsyasi tvaṃ na cennṛpa tac chrutvā mūrchito bhūmau vajrāhata ivāpatat
“विष पीकर मैं मर जाऊँगा—यदि तुम न दोगे, हे नरेश।” यह सुनकर वह मूर्छित होकर भूमि पर वज्र-आहत की भाँति गिर पड़ा।
Narrator (Agni Purana’s running narrator, traditionally Agni addressing Vasiṣṭha; verse narrates a character’s speech and the ensuing reaction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Shows coercive speech and emotional blackmail in court politics; highlights consequences of threats and the king’s vulnerability to dharmic binds.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Threat of Poison and the King’s Collapse","lookup_keywords":["visha","bhaya","mūrcchā","vajrāhata","court-drama"],"quick_summary":"A threat of suicide by poison is used to force compliance; the king, shocked, faints and falls like thunderstruck. The episode dramatizes the psychological violence of coercion."}
Alamkara Type: Upama (simile: 'as if struck by a thunderbolt')
Concept: Adharmic means (threats, self-harm coercion) can entangle a ruler; emotional compulsion is ethically suspect even if it achieves an end.
Application: In counsel and governance, recognize coercive tactics; establish procedures that prevent decisions under duress.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Akhyana (Narrative Episode / Royal Court Drama)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A figure threatens to drink poison; the king, hearing it, swoons and falls to the ground like one struck by lightning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic palace chamber, king collapsing backward, attendants rushing, the threatening figure holding a small poison vessel, bold gestures, deep reds and ochres, stylized lightning motif","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central fallen king with attendants, the poison cup highlighted, gold leaf on royal ornaments, strong frontal drama, ornate arch framing the crisis","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: narrative clarity—poison cup in hand, king mid-faint, attendants supporting, delicate shading to show pallor and shock, instructional depiction of 'mūrcchā' moment","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate court interior, king collapsed on carpet, courtiers alarmed, poison vial small but detailed, refined expressions, architectural niche background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"tense","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चेन्नृप = चेत् + नृप; तच् छ्रुत्वा = तत् + श्रुत्वा (व्यञ्जन-संधि); इवापतत् = इव + अपतत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma: counsel, anger, grief management for kings (general)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; it is a narrative verse illustrating coercive speech (a threat of self-poisoning) and its immediate psychological impact.
Alongside ritual, polity, and sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves didactic storytelling—using courtly situations and human reactions to convey practical ethics and governance concerns.
The verse implicitly warns against adharma-driven coercion and self-harm; such acts are treated in dharma literature as generating negative karma and social disorder, especially when directed at a ruler.