Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 31
Chapter 9 — श्रीरामावतारकथनम् (Śrī Rāmāvatāra-kathanam) | Hanumān’s Ocean-Crossing, Sītā-Darśana, and the Setu Plan
अहं त्वया कृतः पूर्वं रामो ऽपि नलसेतुना कृतेन तरुशैलाद्यैर् गतः पारं महोदधेः वानरैः स सुवेलस्थः सह लङ्कां ददर्श वै
ahaṃ tvayā kṛtaḥ pūrvaṃ rāmo 'pi nalasetunā kṛtena taruśailādyair gataḥ pāraṃ mahodadheḥ vānaraiḥ sa suvelasthaḥ saha laṅkāṃ dadarśa vai
ഞാൻ മുമ്പ് നിനാൽ സൃഷ്ടിക്കപ്പെട്ടവൻ; രാമനും നലൻ പണിത—മരങ്ങളും പർവതങ്ങളും മുതലായവകൊണ്ട് നിർമ്മിതമായ—സേതുവിലൂടെ മഹാസമുദ്രത്തിന്റെ അപ്പുറം കടന്നു. വാനരന്മാരോടൊപ്പം സുവേലയിൽ നിന്നുകൊണ്ട് ലങ്കയെ കണ്ടു.
Lord Agni (narrating puranic-itihasa material in the Agni Purana’s discourse tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Highlights large-scale construction and coordinated labor (trees, rocks) enabling strategic movement; also serves as a memory-anchor (smaraṇa) for righteous enterprise.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Nala’s Bridge: Materials, Crossing, and Rama’s First Sight of Lanka from Suvela","lookup_keywords":["Nala setu","trees and mountains","Vanara army","Suvela","Lanka sight"],"quick_summary":"The bridge built with timber and rocks enables Rāma and the Vānaras to cross the ocean; from Suvela they behold Laṅkā—mythic logistics culminating in strategic reconnaissance."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa (phonetic texture in compounds)
Concept: Collective effort under righteous leadership turns the impossible into the traversable; vision (darśana) follows disciplined action.
Application: For large goals: organize resources, assign roles, and secure vantage/assessment points before decisive action.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Smarana (Ramayana episode within Purana narration)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast bridge of trees and rocks spans the ocean; the Vanara host crosses; Rama stands on Suvela mountain looking toward the golden city of Lanka.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: long rhythmic bridge across stylized waves, vanaras carrying boulders, Rama and Lakshmana at forefront; Suvela as layered green hill; Lanka in distant ornate silhouette; bold contours and patterned sea.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: iconic Rama on Suvela with gold halo, bridge rendered as decorative band across the sea; vanaras in procession; Lanka shown with gilded towers; heavy gold work emphasizing the city and divine figures.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: panoramic instructional scene—bridge construction steps (carrying, placing, binding), then crossing; Rama’s lookout posture on Suvela; fine linework and narrative sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: expansive landscape with detailed bridge engineering, troops in orderly movement, distant fortified Lanka; nuanced water shading, atmospheric depth, and lively monkey figures."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"uplifting","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rāmo 'pi → rāmaḥ api; taruśailādyair → taru-śaila-ādyaiḥ; suvelasthaḥ → suvela-sthaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 9.30 (ocean’s instruction to build bridge); Agni Purana 10 (war episode continuation)
FAQs
It conveys practical know-how in narrative form: the engineering-like act of building a causeway (Nala’s bridge) using available natural materials (trees, rocks/mountains) to enable an ocean crossing.
By embedding an Itihasa (Ramayana) episode, the Agni Purana integrates history-legend, sacred geography (Suvela, Lanka), and exemplary action (collective effort of the Vanaras), showing how it compiles multiple knowledge-domains beyond ritual alone.
It highlights dharmic success through divinely aligned effort: righteous purpose (Rama’s mission) supported by skill and collective service (Vanaras, Nala), implying that disciplined action in service of dharma yields decisive fruition.