Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 20
Somavaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lunar Dynasty
नहुषस्य सुताः सप्त यतिर्ययातिरुत्तमः उद्भवः पञ्चकश् चैव शर्यातिमेघपालकौ
nahuṣasya sutāḥ sapta yatiryayātiruttamaḥ udbhavaḥ pañcakaś caiva śaryātimeghapālakau
नहुषाचे सात पुत्र होते—यति, श्रेष्ठ ययाति, उद्भव, पंचक, तसेच शर्याति, मेघ आणि पालक.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic genealogy to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Genealogical anchoring for later Yayāti-centered narratives and for identifying dynastic branches (useful in Purāṇic cross-reading and ritual recitation contexts).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Seven Sons of Nahuṣa (Including Yayāti)","lookup_keywords":["Nahuṣa","Yati","Yayāti","Śaryāti","seven sons"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates Nahuṣa’s seven sons, prominently including Yayāti—serving as a key node for tracing subsequent royal lineages and associated dharma narratives."}
Concept: Continuity of dharma through lineage: individuals become exemplars (like Yayāti) whose choices later define norms and cautionary tales.
Application: Use lineage knowledge to connect ethical lessons across generations in teaching and discourse.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anucharita (Genealogies of Kings and Lineages)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Nahuṣa as patriarch with seven sons presented in a formal lineup; Yayāti highlighted as ‘uttama’ (excellent), suggesting future prominence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Nahuṣa seated with seven princes in symmetrical arrangement; Yayāti slightly forward with brighter costume; decorative floral borders and name-scroll motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-embellished family portrait; seven sons with distinct crowns; Yayāti with a larger halo/central placement; temple-arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean genealogical illustration with labeled figures; emphasis on clarity and hierarchy; soft colors and fine ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly presentation of seven princes to their father; refined textiles, architectural pavilion, and calligraphic labels; Yayāti subtly emphasized by posture and placement."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यतिर्ययातिरुत्तमः → यतिः + ययातिः + उत्तमः; पञ्चकश् चैव → पञ्चकः + च + एव; शर्यातिमेघपालकौ → शर्याति + मेघपालकौ (juxtaposition in list).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Yayāti-related narrative segments within Vamsha/Rajavamsa material; Agni Purana: broader Soma-vaṃśa genealogies
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as a genealogical record (vamśa-listing) naming Nahuṣa’s seven sons.
By preserving dynastic genealogies alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and aesthetics, the Agni Purana acts as a compendium—this verse exemplifies its historical-chronological (vamśa) cataloging.
Genealogical recitation in Purāṇas supports स्मरण (remembrance) of dharmic lineages and sacred history; hearing/reciting such accounts is traditionally considered पुण्य (meritorious) as part of Purāṇa-śravaṇa.