Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 16
Chapter 9 — श्रीरामावतारकथनम् (Śrī Rāmāvatāra-kathanam) | Hanumān’s Ocean-Crossing, Sītā-Darśana, and the Setu Plan
हनूमान् स दशग्रीव दर्शनोपायमाकरोत् वनं बभञ्ज तत्पालान् हत्वा दन्तनखादिभिः
hanūmān sa daśagrīva darśanopāyamākarot vanaṃ babhañja tatpālān hatvā dantanakhādibhiḥ
അപ്പോൾ ഹനുമാൻ ദശഗ്രീവൻ (രാവണൻ) ദർശനം ലഭിക്കാനുള്ള ഉപായം ആലോചിച്ചു. അവൻ ആ തോട്ടം തകർത്തു, അതിന്റെ കാവൽക്കാരെ പല്ലും നഖവും മുതലായവകൊണ്ട് വധിച്ചു।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Demonstrates tactical provocation to force engagement with the enemy leader; illustrates close-quarters combat using natural weapons (teeth/nails) and controlled escalation.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Hanumān’s tactic to obtain audience with Rāvaṇa by ravaging the grove","lookup_keywords":["Hanuman tactic","Dashagriva audience","grove destruction","teeth nails combat","provocation"],"quick_summary":"Hanumān engineers a confrontation with Rāvaṇa by creating a disturbance—destroying the grove and defeating guards with teeth and nails—so the enemy leadership is compelled to respond."}
Alamkara Type: Kriyā-viśeṣa (action intensification)
Weapon Type: Unarmed/natural weapons (danta, nakha)
Concept: Upāya-kauśalya (skill in means): selecting an action that compels the desired response from a stronger political-military structure.
Application: In adversarial systems, create controlled pressure points that force decision-makers to engage, while maintaining mission intent.
Khanda Section: Ramayana Narrative (Hanuman–Lanka episode; Itihasa-katha within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: veera
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Garden/Grove
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Hanumān tears through a royal grove, uprooting trees and striking down guards with teeth and nails, creating chaos to summon Rāvaṇa’s attention.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, high-energy Hanumān in red-ochre tones, stylized trees snapping, guards in dramatic poses, swirling composition emphasizing motion and vīra rasa","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, heroic Hanumān central with gold highlights on ornaments, broken trees arranged decoratively, fallen guards, rich background patterns, divine aura amid action","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, sequential action clarity: Hanumān breaking trees and subduing guards with nails/teeth, clean lines, instructional depiction of tactic and movement","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed garden with shattered branches, Hanumān mid-leap, guards recoiling, architectural hints of Laṅkā palace beyond, meticulous flora and dynamic diagonals"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: darśanopāyamākarot = darśanopāyam + ākarot; tatpālān = tat + pālān; dantanakhādibhiḥ = danta-nakha-ādibhiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 9 (Laṅkā episode progression: meeting → provocation → capture)
FAQs
It conveys practical strategy (upāya): provoking a controlled confrontation to force access to an otherwise unreachable ruler—here, Hanumān engineers an audience with Rāvaṇa by creating a security crisis.
Alongside ritual, dharma, and technical subjects, the Agni Purana also preserves Itihāsa-style narrative material; such verses function as ethical and strategic exempla embedded within its wide-ranging compendium.
The act is framed as mission-driven dharma: force is used as an instrument in service of Rāma’s cause, emphasizing disciplined action aligned with righteous purpose rather than personal aggression.