Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 15
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
अन्योन्यास्त्रनिपीडितमिति ख, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः पञ्चमेहनि दुर्धर्षः सर्वक्षत्रं प्रमथ्य च दुर्योधने तु शोकार्ते कर्णः सेनापतिस्त्वभूत्
anyonyāstranipīḍitamiti kha, gha, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ pañcamehani durdharṣaḥ sarvakṣatraṃ pramathya ca duryodhane tu śokārte karṇaḥ senāpatistvabhūt
‘അന്യോന്യാസ്ത്രനിപീഡിതം’ എന്ന പാഠം ഖ, ഘ കൈയെഴുത്തുപ്രതികളിൽ ചിഹ്നിതമായി കാണുന്നു. അഞ്ചാം ദിവസം ദുര്ധർഷൻ സമസ്ത ക്ഷത്രിയരെ തകർത്തു; ദുര്യോധനൻ ശോകാർത്തനായപ്പോൾ കർണൻ സേനാപതിയായി.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Text-critical awareness (variant readings across manuscripts) alongside war-day chronology and command succession; useful for editors, translators, and historians of the epic tradition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Pāṭhabheda Note and Fifth-Day Command: Karṇa as Senāpati","lookup_keywords":["pāṭhabheda","anyonyāstra-nipīḍitam","pañcame ahani","Karṇa senāpati","manuscripts kha gha"],"quick_summary":"Records a manuscript variant (‘anyonyāstra-nipīḍitam’) and notes that on the fifth day, after severe fighting, Karṇa became commander when Duryodhana grieved—preserving both philology and narrative sequence."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (mild, via repeated consonant clusters in compound-heavy phrasing)
Weapon Type: Astra/śastra in mutual pressure (anyonyāstra-nipīḍita)
Concept: Preservation of knowledge includes preserving variants; history is transmitted through disciplined textual care.
Application: When studying tradition, note manuscript evidence; in applied fields, document versions and decisions for accountability.
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Mahabharata-Samgraha (Puranic Epic Synopsis / Rajadharma-Related Narrative)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe-like marginal note about variant readings juxtaposed with a battlefield scene where Karṇa is appointed commander on the fifth day amid mutual weapon-pressure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split composition: left shows palm-leaf manuscript and stylus with highlighted words ‘anyonyāstra-nipīḍitam’; right shows Karṇa receiving command insignia before troops, bold colors and temple aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Karṇa as central commander with gold embellishments, attendants holding royal parasol and banner; border includes miniature palm-leaf manuscript motif in gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: top band shows manuscript variants and scribes; lower band shows day-five battlefield and Karṇa’s appointment, fine linework and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly appointment scene in a war-camp with scribes recording orders, Karṇa in armor, detailed tents, banners, and marginal calligraphy-like cartouche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: (Editorial note segment retained as given.) पञ्चमेहनि → पञ्चमे अहनि; सेनापतिस्त्वभूत् → सेनापतिः तु अभूत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Itihāsa-saṃgraha editorial-style notes elsewhere (pāṭhabheda mentions); Agni Purāṇa Mahābhārata synopsis passages on Karṇa’s role and command changes
FAQs
This verse primarily conveys itihāsa-based military-historical knowledge: the sequencing of battle-days and the appointment of a senāpati (commander-in-chief) during the Kurukṣetra war.
By embedding a compressed Mahābhārata battlefield synopsis (events, outcomes, leadership changes) within a Purāṇic framework, the Agni Purana functions as a reference compendium that preserves epic history alongside theology, ritual, polity, and other sciences.
The verse underscores the destructive consequences of kṣatriya conflict and grief-driven leadership shifts—serving as a dharmic caution that warfare rooted in adharma culminates in collective ruin and sorrow.