Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 12
Chapter 13 — कुरुपाण्डवोत्पत्त्यादिकथनं
Narration of the Origin of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, and Related Matters
दुर्योधनो जतुगृहे पाण्डवानदहत् कुधीः दग्धागाराद्विनिष्क्रान्ता मातृपृष्टास्तु पाण्डवाः
duryodhano jatugṛhe pāṇḍavānadahat kudhīḥ dagdhāgārādviniṣkrāntā mātṛpṛṣṭāstu pāṇḍavāḥ
കുബുദ്ധിയുള്ള ദുര്യോധനൻ ജതുഗൃഹത്തിൽ (ലാക്ഷാഗൃഹത്തിൽ) പാണ്ഡവരെ ദഹിപ്പിച്ചു; എന്നാൽ മാതാവിന്റെ ഉപദേശത്താൽ രക്ഷപ്പെട്ട പാണ്ഡവർ ആ കത്തിയ ഭവനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്തുവന്നു.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Illustrates political sabotage and survival strategy in royal rivalry; used in narrative teaching on vigilance, counsel, and crisis escape.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Jatugṛha Conflagration and the Pāṇḍavas’ Escape","lookup_keywords":["jatugriha lac house","Duryodhana arson","Pandava escape","Kunti counsel","Mahabharata episode"],"quick_summary":"Summarizes Duryodhana’s attempt to burn the Pāṇḍavas in the lac house and their successful escape through timely guidance and planning."}
Concept: Adharma of deceitful violence contrasted with dharmic prudence and protection through wise counsel.
Application: In governance and personal life: recognize hostile intent, rely on trusted counsel, prepare exits and contingencies.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Samgraha (Mahabharata narrative synopsis)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A blazing lac house at night; silhouettes of the Pāṇḍavas escaping while Kuntī directs them, smoke and flames behind, urgency and secrecy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic fire scene with stylized flames, Pāṇḍavas in motion guided by Kuntī, strong reds and blacks, expressive eyes, narrative border motifs indicating treachery.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, high-contrast fire-lit scene, embossed gold highlights on ornaments even amid crisis, Kuntī pointing the way, architectural depiction of the lac house with gilded accents, intense red-orange palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear architectural cutaway of the lac house, showing escape route, Kuntī counseling, controlled composition, fine linework and soft gradients for smoke.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, nocturnal palace fire with detailed architecture, figures escaping through a concealed passage, realistic smoke plumes, guards in confusion, refined color layering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"tense","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाण्डवानदहत्→पाण्डवान् अदहत्; दग्धागाराद्विनिष्क्रान्ता→दग्ध-आगारात् विनिष्क्रान्ताः; मातृपृष्टास्तु→मातृ-पृष्टाः तु।
Related Themes: Agni Purana Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa: early Kaurava plots and Pāṇḍava exile arc
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as itihāsa-samgraha, summarizing a key Mahābhārata incident (the lac-house plot and escape).
By compressing major epic history into brief, reference-like statements, the Agni Purana serves as a compendium—preserving narrative chronology alongside its many other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, arts).
It highlights adharma-driven violence (Duryodhana’s plot) and the protection that follows dharmic resilience and wise guidance, implying that malicious intent leads to downfall while righteousness finds a path to survival.