Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 5
Chapter 7 — रामायणवर्णनं (Description of the Rāmāyaṇa): Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara’s Defeat, and Sītā-haraṇa Prelude
एतौ च भक्षयिष्यामि इत्य् उक्त्वा तं समुद्यता तस्या नासाञ्च कर्णौ च रामोक्तो लक्ष्मणो ऽच्छिनत्
etau ca bhakṣayiṣyāmi ity uktvā taṃ samudyatā tasyā nāsāñca karṇau ca rāmokto lakṣmaṇo 'cchinat
Sambil berkata, “Dua orang ini pun akan kulahap,” ia bangkit untuk menyerang; lalu atas perintah Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa memotong hidung dan telinganya.
Agni (narrating Purāṇic-Itihāsa material to a sage-audience in the Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Shows calibrated force in protection: when a threat escalates to violence, defensive action is taken under command authority; also illustrates proportional disabling rather than immediate killing (as presented here).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Lakṣmaṇa mutilates Śūrpaṇakhā at Rāma’s command","lookup_keywords":["Lakṣmaṇa","Śūrpaṇakhā","nose and ears","command","self-defense"],"quick_summary":"When Śūrpaṇakhā threatens to devour them and attacks, Lakṣmaṇa—on Rāma’s instruction—cuts off her nose and ears. The episode functions as a narrative hinge leading to further conflict and as a case of protective, disabling response."}
Alamkara Type: Kriyā-viśeṣa (action-focused narration) with bhayānaka-to-vīra turn
Weapon Type: Sword/knife implied (for cutting)
Concept: Protection of the innocent and maintenance of order may require force; action should be under rightful authority and aimed at stopping harm.
Application: In crisis management, respond quickly and proportionately to imminent danger, prioritizing protection and de-escalation where possible.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-katha (Ramayana narrative episodes within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Type: Forest/Āśrama vicinity
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Śūrpaṇakhā lunges forward threatening to devour; Lakṣmaṇa, directed by Rāma, swiftly cuts off her nose and ears; the forest hermitage backdrop heightens the shock and urgency.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic diagonal composition, Lakṣmaṇa mid-strike, Rāma commanding with controlled gesture, Śūrpaṇakhā recoiling, stylized blood minimal, emphasis on dramatic posture and vīra-bhayānaka blend.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central action with gold accents on weapons and ornaments, Lakṣmaṇa in heroic stance, Rāma authoritative, Śūrpaṇakhā in dramatic recoil; ornate frame, high contrast.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise depiction of movement and weapon angle, clear facial expressions (command, focus, shock), forest hut and river hinted; didactic clarity of cause (attack) and response (disabling).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest clearing, swift action frozen in time, restrained depiction of violence, attention to textiles and anatomy, narrative realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity uktvā: इत्य् + उक्त्वा → iti + uktvā; nāsāñca → nāsām + ca; lakṣmaṇo 'cchinat → lakṣmaṇaḥ + acchinat (visarga before vowel); rāmokto → rāma-uktaḥ (compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ramayana-khanda: subsequent account of Śūrpaṇakhā reporting to Khara/Rāvaṇa and the chain to Sītā-haraṇa
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; it is an Itihāsa narrative moment emphasizing immediate protective action under rightful command.
It illustrates the Agni Purana’s compendious scope by incorporating Itihāsa (Ramayana) narration alongside its many other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, arts), preserving widely-known dharma narratives within a Purāṇic framework.
The verse frames force as restrained and duty-bound: Lakṣmaṇa acts under Rāma’s command to neutralize a violent aggressor, reflecting dharma-protection and the principle that punishment/restraint should be proportionate to threat.