Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 1
Description of the Royal Dynasties (राजवंशवर्णनम्) — Chapter Colophon and Transition
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे राजवंशवर्णनं नाम षट्सप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः दधिवामनोभूदिति ख , छ , ञ , च अथ सप्तसप्रत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः पुरुवंशवर्णनं अग्निर् उवाच पुरोर्जनमेजयो ऽभूत्प्राचीन्नन्तस्तु तत्सुतः प्राचीन्नन्तान्मनस्त्युस्तु तस्माद्वीतमयो नृपः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe rājavaṃśavarṇanaṃ nāma ṣaṭsaptatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dadhivāmanobhūditi kha , cha , ña , ca atha saptasapratyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ puruvaṃśavarṇanaṃ agnir uvāca purorjanamejayo 'bhūtprācīnnantastu tatsutaḥ prācīnnantānmanastyustu tasmādvītamayo nṛpaḥ
अशा प्रकारे श्री अग्नि-महापुराणातील “राजवंशवर्णन” नावाचा दोनशे सत्त्याहत्तरावा अध्याय समाप्त होतो. (काही पाठांत—“दधिवामन उत्पन्न झाला” असा ख, छ, ञ, च हस्तलिखितांत पाठ आढळतो.) आता “पुरुवंशवर्णन” नावाचा दोनशे अठ्ठ्याहत्तरावा अध्याय सुरू होतो. अग्नि म्हणाले—पुरूपासून जनमेजय झाला; त्याचा पुत्र प्राचीनन्त. प्राचीनन्तापासून मनस्त्यु, आणि त्याच्यापासून राजा वीतमय झाला.
Lord Agni (narrating genealogies; standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Dynastic anchoring for Itihasa-Purana chronology; aids in mapping royal lineages used in dharma, ritual patronage histories, and regional traditions.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Puru-vaṃśa (opening genealogy: Puru → Janamejaya → Prācīnnanta → Manastyu → Vītamaya)","lookup_keywords":["Puru-vamsha","Janamejaya","Pracinnanta","Manastyu","Vitamaya"],"quick_summary":"Introduces the Puru dynasty sequence and signals a chapter transition; useful as a reference chain for correlating later kings, sages, and events tied to the Paurava line."}
Concept: Smृति/itihāsa as a vehicle for preserving social memory and dharmic legitimacy through lineage.
Application: Use genealogical lists to contextualize vows, donations, and royal duties described elsewhere; supports traditional historiography and ritual patronage narratives.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Itihasa-Puranic Genealogies (Vamsha-Varṇana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as narrator reciting a royal genealogy; a scribe or disciple records names on palm-leaf, with a symbolic royal lineage tree behind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: Agni with flaming aureole seated on a lotus pedestal, gesturing as he narrates; a disciple with palm-leaf manuscript; stylized lineage tree motifs; earthy reds, ochres, and greens; flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: Agni with ornate crown and halo in gold leaf, seated, right hand in teaching gesture; palm-leaf manuscript and stylized genealogy scroll; rich jewel tones, embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: refined linework showing Agni instructing a sage-scribe; clear labeled scroll segments with the names Puru, Janamejaya, Prācīnnanta, Manastyu, Vītamaya; soft shading and delicate ornament.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly setting with a learned narrator (Agni anthropomorphized with subtle flame halo) dictating to a munshi; a genealogical chart on paper; architectural pavilion, fine textiles, detailed faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य्→इति; ऽध्यायः→अध्यायः; अग्निर् उवाच→अग्निः उवाच; ऽभूत्प्राचीन्नन्तस्तु→अभूत् प्राचीन्-नन्तः तु (नामरूपेण प्राचीन्नन्तः); तत्सुतः→तत् सुतः; प्राचीन्नन्तान्मनस्त्युस्तु→प्राचीन्नन्तात् मनस्त्युः तु; तस्माद्वीतमयो→तस्मात् वीतमयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma sections on kingship duties; Agni Purana: Vamsha-varnana / dynastic catalogues (adjacent chapters)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; this passage functions as a chapter colophon and a genealogical transition into the Puru dynasty list.
By preserving structured dynastic catalogues (vaṃśāvalī) and manuscript-aware readings, it supports the Purana’s encyclopedic role as a reference for royal lineages, chronology markers, and textual transmission.
Genealogies in Purāṇas reinforce dharma through exemplars of righteous kingship and continuity of sacred history; reciting or studying them is traditionally treated as meritorious (smṛti of dharmic lineages).