Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 25
Chapter 10 — श्रीरामावतारवर्णनम्
Description of the Incarnation-Deeds of Śrī Rāma
धनुर्बाहूञ्छिरांस्येव उत्तिष्ठन्ति शिरांसि हि पैतामहेन हृदयं भित्वा रामेण रावणः
dhanurbāhūñchirāṃsyeva uttiṣṭhanti śirāṃsi hi paitāmahena hṛdayaṃ bhitvā rāmeṇa rāvaṇaḥ
Kepala-kepala yang terpenggal bangkit lagi seakan-akan lengan busur. Namun ketika Rāma menembus jantungnya dengan senjata Paitāmaha, Rāvaṇa akhirnya roboh.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Teaches escalation against extraordinary opponents: when conventional decapitation fails (regenerative heads), employ a higher astra aimed at the vital center (hṛdaya).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Paitāmaha-astra and the hṛdaya-bheda of Rāvaṇa","lookup_keywords":["Paitāmaha astra","hṛdaya-bheda","regenerating heads","Rāvaṇa fall","astra escalation"],"quick_summary":"Rāvaṇa’s severed heads reappear, but Rāma pierces the heart with the Paitāmaha weapon, indicating the decisive use of a superior astra and vital-point targeting."}
Alamkara Type: Utprekṣā/Upamā-like imaginative comparison (heads rising like bow-arms)
Weapon Type: Astra (Paitāmaha); bow and arrow as delivery
Concept: Discernment (viveka) in action: apply the right means at the right depth; superficial victories may not end the root problem.
Application: In persistent problems, identify the root-cause ‘heart’ and address it with an appropriately powerful, well-directed intervention.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (War Narrative / Rama-Ravana Battle Episode)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāvaṇa’s severed heads appear to rise again; Rāma releases the radiant Paitāmaha weapon that pierces Rāvaṇa’s heart, ending the battle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic multi-headed Rāvaṇa with reappearing heads, Rāma releasing a luminous astra beam, stylized energy aura, intense reds and golds, divine radiance around the arrow’s path.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heavy gold work on crowns and weapon glow, Rāma with halo, the astra depicted as a golden flame-arrow striking the chest, ornate battlefield frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear depiction of the ‘heads rising’ motif and the heart-target strike, fine facial expressions, controlled palette, didactic clarity of the decisive aim-point.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intricate rendering of multiple heads and armor, a bright projectile line to the heart, attendants and battlefield detail, subtle shading to show shock and collapse."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धनुर्बाहूञ्छिरांस्येव = धनुः बाहून् शिरांसि इव (ञ्-आगम/अनुस्वार-सन्धि before ś); उत्तिष्ठन्ति unchanged; भित्वा is gerund from √भिद्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda/astravidyā discussions; Ramayana-katha climax verses
FAQs
It highlights Dhanurveda’s concept of specialized astras (divine missiles), specifically the Paitāmaha Astra, portrayed as a decisive weapon capable of ending otherwise regenerative combat.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves martial lore—naming astras, describing battlefield effects, and embedding weapon-science within a broader Purāṇic knowledge system.
The verse frames righteous force as effective when aligned with dharma: the divinely sanctioned astra, used by Rāma, symbolizes the triumph of cosmic order over destructive power.