Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 1
पाण्डवचरितवर्णनम्
The Account of the Pāṇḍavas
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये महाभारतवर्णनं नाम चतुर्दशो ऽध्यायः अथ पञ्चदशो ऽध्यायः पाण्डवचरितवर्णनम् अग्निर् उवाच युधिष्ठिरे तु राज्यस्थे आश्रमादाश्रमान्तरम् धृतराष्ट्रो वनमगाद् गान्धारी च पृथा द्विज
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye mahābhāratavarṇanaṃ nāma caturdaśo 'dhyāyaḥ atha pañcadaśo 'dhyāyaḥ pāṇḍavacaritavarṇanam agnir uvāca yudhiṣṭhire tu rājyasthe āśramādāśramāntaram dhṛtarāṣṭro vanamagād gāndhārī ca pṛthā dvija
Demikianlah dalam Agni Purāṇa, Mahāpurāṇa yang purba, berakhir bab keempat belas berjudul “Uraian Mahābhārata.” Kini dimulai bab kelima belas, “Riwayat Para Pāṇḍava.” Agni bersabda: Wahai brāhmaṇa, ketika Yudhiṣṭhira telah tegak dalam kerajaan, Dhṛtarāṣṭra pergi ke hutan, berpindah dari satu āśrama ke āśrama lain, bersama Gāndhārī dan Pṛthā.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Textual navigation and narrative transition: marks chapter colophon and begins Pāṇḍava-charita; also models vānaprastha movement (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s forest life) as a dharmic life-stage.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Adhyāya-colophon and Transition to Pāṇḍava-carita; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Vānaprastha","lookup_keywords":["adhyāya-samāpti","Pāṇḍava-carita","Dhṛtarāṣṭra","vānaprastha","āśrama"],"quick_summary":"The text closes the Mahābhārata synopsis chapter and opens the Pāṇḍava narrative. Dhṛtarāṣṭra, with Gāndhārī and Pṛthā, moves through forest hermitages, illustrating āśrama transition after Yudhiṣṭhira’s enthronement."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (light, incidental)
Concept: Āśrama-dharma: after political settlement, elders may enter forest life, seeking detachment and spiritual preparation.
Application: Life-planning ethic: transition from active duty to contemplative living; seek guidance from multiple teachers/communities (āśrama network).
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Purana Sankshipta (Mahabharata & Pandava-charita synopsis)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Sacred grove/Āśrama
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript-like colophon scene transitioning to a forest journey: Yudhiṣṭhira enthroned; Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī, and Pṛthā walking with staffs through a forest path between hermitages.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split composition: palace with Yudhiṣṭhira seated; forest path with three elders in simple garments, sages’ huts, banyan trees, calm palette, śānta mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate throne scene on one side and gilded forest vignette on the other; gold highlights on palace pillars and sacred trees; dignified elder figures with minimal ornament","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional narrative transition: labeled ‘Adhyāya 14 samāpti’ and ‘Adhyāya 15 ārambha’; detailed hermitage huts, waterpot, staff, gentle realism","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, procession through forest with attendants reduced, emphasis on aging faces and restraint; delicate foliage, small hermitage architecture, subtle court-to-forest contrast"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity = iti; rājye parīkṣitam etc. not in this verse; āśramādāśramāntaram = āśramāt āśramāntaram; vanamagād = vanam agāt; agnir uvāca = agniḥ uvāca; caturdaśo 'dhyāyaḥ = caturdaśaḥ adhyāyaḥ; pañcadaśo 'dhyāyaḥ = pañcadaśaḥ adhyāyaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Āśrama-dharma discussions (if present in dharma sections); Agni Purana: Itihāsa-saṅgraha narrative framework and chapter colophons
FAQs
It conveys the dharma-oriented life-transition (āśrama movement) associated with vānaprastha—withdrawal to forest hermitages after the establishment of rightful kingship.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa’s compendious method: integrating Itihāsa (the Mahābhārata narrative) as a concise reference framework alongside its many other disciplines.
The verse highlights renunciation and detachment after worldly duty is fulfilled, presenting forest-dwelling as a purificatory, dharma-aligned stage that supports spiritual maturation.