Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 27
Sūryavaṃśa-kīrtana
Proclamation of the Solar Dynasty
हरिश् चन्द्राद्रोहिताश्वो रोहिताश्वाद्वृको ऽभवत् वृकाद्वाहुश् च वाहोश् च सगरस्तस्य च प्रिया
hariś candrādrohitāśvo rohitāśvādvṛko 'bhavat vṛkādvāhuś ca vāhoś ca sagarastasya ca priyā
ഹരിശ്ചന്ദ്രനിൽ നിന്ന് രോഹിതാശ്വൻ ജനിച്ചു; രോഹിതാശ്വനിൽ നിന്ന് വൃകൻ ഉദ്ഭവിച്ചു. വൃകനിൽ നിന്ന് ബാഹു, ബാഹുവിൽ നിന്ന് സഗരൻ തന്റെ പ്രിയ പത്നിയോടുകൂടെ ജനിച്ചു.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic genealogy to Vasiṣṭha, per the Agni Purāṇa’s frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Locates the celebrated Hariścandra and Sagara within the solar genealogy, enabling cross-linking to vow/charity narratives and Sagara’s later exploits.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Hariścandra to Sagara: Genealogical Bridge","lookup_keywords":["Hariścandra","Rohitāśva","Vṛka","Bāhu","Sagara"],"quick_summary":"Names the descent from Hariścandra through Rohitāśva, Vṛka, and Bāhu to Sagara, preparing the narrative ground for the Sagara-saga and its cosmological consequences."}
Concept: Exemplary kings as carriers of dharma across generations; fame (kīrti) is anchored in lineage and conduct.
Application: Use as a mnemonic preface when teaching Hariścandra’s satya-dharma and Sagara’s consequential actions.
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Vamshanucharita (Royal Genealogies / Solar Dynasty Narratives)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lineage procession culminating in King Sagara beside his queen, with earlier ancestors shown as smaller figures behind, suggesting inherited royal splendor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Hariścandra and successors in a rhythmic row, Sagara larger at the end with consort, ornate jewelry, temple-lamp motifs, deep greens and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Sagara and queen as central icons with gold embossing, ancestor portraits in smaller arches above, royal throne and parasol.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, narrative panel with labeled kings, emphasis on clarity and pedagogy, delicate shading, courtly interior.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dynastic portrait series, Sagara with consort in foreground, ancestors receding, detailed textiles and architectural pavilion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरिश् → हरिः; चन्द्राद्रोहिताश्वः → चन्द्रात् + रोहिताश्वः; रोहिताश्वाद्वृकः → रोहिताश्वात् + वृकः; वृको ऽभवत् → वृकः + अभवत्; वृकाद्वाहुः → वृकात् + वाहुः; वाहोश् → वाहोः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 272.28-29 (Sagara’s family and the 60,000 sons episode)
FAQs
This verse imparts dynastic documentation (vaṃśa-kramānuśāsana)—a historical-archival listing of succession in the Solar Dynasty, used to anchor later narratives and dharma-based models of kingship.
By preserving structured royal genealogies, the Agni Purana functions as a reference compendium for Itihāsa-Purāṇa history—cataloguing lineages that connect mythic events, political ideals, and later chapters on dharma and governance.
Reciting and remembering righteous lineages is traditionally held to support śraddhā in dharma and reinforce the merit of honoring ancestors and exemplary rulers, strengthening one’s orientation toward righteous conduct.