Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 9
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
सूरसेनश् च सूरश् च धृष्टोक्तः कृष्ण एव च जयध्वजश् च नामासीदावन्त्यो नृपतिर्महान्
sūrasenaś ca sūraś ca dhṛṣṭoktaḥ kṛṣṇa eva ca jayadhvajaś ca nāmāsīdāvantyo nṛpatirmahān
सूरसेन और सूर, धृष्टोक्त, तथा कृष्ण—और जयध्वज नामक (राजा) हुए; इसी वंश में अवन्ति का महान नृपति प्रसिद्ध हुआ।
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic account to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Genealogical memory for political legitimacy and regional identity (Avanti line); used by bards/purohitas to situate rulers within recognized dynastic sequences.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Names in the Avanti-linked lineage (Sūrasena, Sūra, Dhṛṣṭokta, Kṛṣṇa, Jayadhvaja)","lookup_keywords":["Avanti","Jayadhvaja","Surasena","Dhrishtokta","genealogy"],"quick_summary":"A compact onomastic list preserves dynastic succession; such lists function as authoritative indices for Purāṇic historiography."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā / enumeration
Concept: Preservation of names and succession as a form of cultural knowledge (smṛti) sustaining social order.
Application: Use as a reference list for recitation, annotation, and cross-checking dynastic tables across Purāṇas.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anucharita (Dynastic Genealogies / Royal Lineages)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A genealogical court-roll depiction: a royal scribe reads a lineage register while five named kings are shown as portrait medallions or sequential figures, culminating in Jayadhvaja as the great Avanti ruler.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized medallions of kings labeled in Devanagari, Jayadhvaja larger with royal parasol, palace backdrop, bold flat colors and ornamental frame","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, five king-figures in a row with gold halos, Jayadhvaja central and larger, ornate throne and arch, gold foil highlights on crowns and jewelry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, manuscript-illustration feel: scribe with palm-leaf, lineage tree motif branching to the five names, delicate lines and muted palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, genealogical album page: portraits of kings with captions, court historian presenting a scroll, architectural Avanti palace setting, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सूरसेनश्→सूरसेनः; सूरश्→सूरः; जयध्वजश्→जयध्वजः; नामासीदावन्त्यो→नाम + आसीत् + आवन्त्यः (vowel coalescence); नृपतिर्महान्→नृपतिः + महान् (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: continuing Haihaya/Avanti genealogical passages (immediately surrounding verses)
FAQs
This verse imparts dynastic-chronicle knowledge (vaṃśa-smṛti): a catalog of royal names in the Avanti lineage, used for Purāṇic historiography rather than ritual procedure.
By preserving structured lists of rulers and regions (like Avanti), it functions as a reference index of political-geographical memory alongside the Agni Purana’s other subjects (ritual, law, arts, and sciences).
Remembering and reciting Purāṇic lineages is traditionally treated as smṛti-based puṇya (merit), reinforcing dharma through remembrance of righteous kings and the continuity of sacred history.