Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 9
Sūryavaṃśa-kīrtana
Proclamation of the Solar Dynasty
दिक् सर्वा राजवर्यस्य गयस्य तु गयापुरी वशिष्ठवाक्यात् सुद्युम्नः प्रतिष्ठानमवाप ह
dik sarvā rājavaryasya gayasya tu gayāpurī vaśiṣṭhavākyāt sudyumnaḥ pratiṣṭhānamavāpa ha
ശ്രേഷ്ഠരാജാവായ ഗയയുടെ കീർത്തി എല്ലാ ദിക്കുകളിലേക്കും വ്യാപിച്ചു; ഗയയ്ക്ക് ‘ഗയാപുരി’ എന്ന നഗരം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. വസിഷ്ഠന്റെ വചനത്താൽ സുദ്യുമ്നൻ പ്രതിഷ്ഠാനം പ്രാപിച്ചു.
Lord Agni (narrator) to Vasiṣṭha (frame dialogue typical of Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Connects exemplary kingship (fame in all directions) with sacred urban geography (Gayāpurī) and guru-blessing (Vasiṣṭha) legitimizing a capital (Pratiṣṭhāna).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"King Gaya’s fame; Gayapuri; Sudyumna’s Pratishthana by Vasistha’s word","lookup_keywords":["Gaya","Gayapuri","Vasistha","Sudyumna","Pratishthana"],"quick_summary":"Portrays Gaya as a paradigmatic renowned king with a named city (Gayāpurī) and states that Sudyumna obtained Pratiṣṭhāna through Vasiṣṭha’s authoritative blessing/instruction."}
Alamkara Type: Digvyapti (hyperbolic spread in all directions)
Concept: Rajadharma is validated by kīrti (public renown) and by brahmarṣi-vākya (authoritative counsel/blessing of sages like Vasiṣṭha).
Application: Model for governance: seek dharmic counsel, establish stable capitals, and cultivate fame through protection and righteous rule rather than mere conquest.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Puranic Geography (Tirtha–Kshetra–Vamsha context)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha/River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"King Gaya celebrated with banners pointing to the four directions; the city of Gayāpurī shown as a sacred urban center; Vasiṣṭha blessing Sudyumna, who receives/establishes Pratiṣṭhāna as capital.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, tri-panel: (1) King Gaya with directional banners, (2) Gayāpurī with temple and river motifs, (3) sage Vasiṣṭha with kamandalu blessing Sudyumna before a stylized city gate labeled Pratiṣṭhāna.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central enthroned King Gaya with gold aura and four-direction emblems; side vignette of Vasiṣṭha granting a boon to Sudyumna; Gayāpurī rendered with gilded temple towers and ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear narrative illustration: Vasiṣṭha’s upadeśa to Sudyumna with a schematic city-plan of Pratiṣṭhāna; separate inset of Gayāpurī as a sacred city, emphasis on instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scene of Vasiṣṭha advising Sudyumna, delicate architecture of Pratiṣṭhāna in background; another vignette shows Gayāpurī with pilgrims, and King Gaya’s fame indicated by heralds in four directions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pratiṣṭhānamavāpa = pratiṣṭhānam + avāpa.
Related Themes: Agni Purana—Rajadharma teachings on kingly conduct and fame; puranic geography/tirtha mentions of Gayā; vamsha passages on Sudyumna
FAQs
It transmits kṣetra–purāṇa knowledge: the fame of King Gaya, the identification of Gayāpurī, and the legitimization of Sudyumna’s rule at Pratiṣṭhāna through Vasiṣṭha’s authoritative word (a marker of priestly sanction in royal installation).
It combines multiple purāṇic data-types in one compact notice—historical genealogy (Sudyumna), political geography (Pratiṣṭhāna), and sacred geography (Gayā/Gayāpurī)—illustrating how the Agni Purana catalogs places, persons, and legitimizing traditions together.
By linking Gayā (a famed śrāddha-tīrtha) with a righteous king and showing rule conferred through a sage’s word, the verse underscores dharmic kingship: authority is spiritually validated by ṛṣi-sanction, which is presented as a source of stability and merit.