Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 20
Chapter 7 — रामायणवर्णनं (Description of the Rāmāyaṇa): Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara’s Defeat, and Sītā-haraṇa Prelude
मायामृगो ऽसौ सौमित्रे यथा त्वमिह चागतः तथा सीता हृता नूनं नापश्यत् स गतो ऽथ ताम्
māyāmṛgo 'sau saumitre yathā tvamiha cāgataḥ tathā sītā hṛtā nūnaṃ nāpaśyat sa gato 'tha tām
«ឱ សោមិត្រី (លក្ខ្មណ) សត្វក្តាន់នោះជាក្តាន់មាយា។ ដូចដែលអ្នកបានមកទីនេះ នោះសីតាប្រាកដជាត្រូវបានចាប់ពង្រត់។ គាត់មិនបានឃើញនាងទេ; បន្ទាប់មកគាត់បានចាកចេញពីនាង»។
Lord Agni (narrator) to Sage Vasiṣṭha (frame dialogue of Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Teaches inference from signs (anumana) and recognition of māyā (illusion) to make timely decisions in emergencies.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Recognition of māyā and inference of abduction","lookup_keywords":["māyāmṛga","anumana","Saumitri","Sītā-haraṇa","viveka"],"quick_summary":"Rāma identifies the deer as illusion and immediately infers Sītā’s abduction from Lakṣmaṇa’s arrival; correct diagnosis of deception enables swift response."}
Alamkara Type: Arthāntaranyāsa (reasoned assertion) / Hetu-based statement; also Dhvani of urgency
Concept: Māyā-viveka and pramāṇa (anumana) as tools to pierce deception
Application: When events deviate from protocol, treat it as a signal; infer likely threats from changed conditions and act without delay
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Ramayana-Upakhyana (Narrative Retelling within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: Bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma speaks urgently to Lakṣmaṇa, pointing toward the empty hut/clearing, explaining the deer was illusion and concluding Sītā has been abducted; the forest feels suddenly vacant.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in animated dialogue, Rāma’s hand indicating absence, stylized forest, heightened eyes and gestures conveying alarm, deep greens and reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa with ornate crowns and bows, gold-leaf accents, empty space near a cottage to signify Sītā’s absence, dramatic but symmetrical composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic clarity: Rāma explaining, Lakṣmaṇa attentive, minimal background with hut and footprints/emptiness implied, soft colors and fine outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic forest clearing with a small hut, Rāma gesturing in explanation, Lakṣmaṇa listening, emphasis on negative space indicating abduction, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मृगोऽसौ = मृगः + असौ; त्वमिह = त्वम् + इह; चागतः = च + आगतः; नापश्यत् = न + अपश्यत्; गतोऽथ = गतः + अथ.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 7.16 (māyā trigger); Agni Purāṇa 7.17 (abduction outcome)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as Itihāsa narration highlighting māyā (illusion) as a device leading to Sītā’s abduction.
By embedding a Ramayana retelling, the Agni Purana preserves Itihāsa narrative alongside its many technical sections (ritual, polity, medicine, arts), demonstrating its multi-genre, encyclopedic scope.
It underscores vigilance against māyā and deception: misrecognition and distraction can precipitate dharmic loss, serving as a moral-spiritual warning within the narrative.