Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 28
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
जरासन्धस्य ते पुत्र्यौ जरासन्धस्तदीरितः चक्रे स मथुरारोधं यादवैर् युयुधे शरैः
jarāsandhasya te putryau jarāsandhastadīritaḥ cakre sa mathurārodhaṃ yādavair yuyudhe śaraiḥ
Dua puteri Jarāsandha—atas dorongan mereka—Jarāsandha pun mengepung Mathurā dan berperang melawan kaum Yādava dengan hujan anak panah.
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s frame-dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Illustrates siege warfare and archery volleys as a political response to dynastic grievance; useful for understanding classical siege motifs and ranged-combat emphasis.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Jarāsandha’s siege of Mathurā and arrow-volley battle","lookup_keywords":["Jarāsandha","Mathurā-rodha","siege","śara","Yādava"],"quick_summary":"Provoked by his daughters’ grievance, Jarāsandha besieges Mathurā and engages the Yādavas with sustained arrow volleys—classic purāṇic siege-and-ranged-combat framing."}
Alamkara Type: Vīra-yuddha-varṇana; hetu (causal link) via daughters’ urging
Weapon Type: Bow and arrows (śara)
Concept: Personal grievance can escalate into collective warfare; rulers must weigh counsel and consequences.
Application: In leadership, scrutinize emotionally driven advice; de-escalate before conflict becomes entrenched.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Purana Katha (Krishna-Charita / Yadava-Vamsa Narratives)
Primary Rasa: Vīra
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Type: Kingdom/City
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Jarāsandha’s forces surround Mathurā; archers release volleys toward the city while Yādava defenders respond from walls and gates.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panoramic siege: stylized fort walls, massed archers with synchronized bows, banners and drums; defenders on ramparts; bold reds/ochres and strong outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, fortified Mathurā with gold-highlighted battlements; Jarāsandha as regal commander with ornate crown; glittering arrow patterns and decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical clarity of siege layout: encirclement lines, gate focus, archery ranks; subtle shading and precise architecture rendering.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed fort architecture and troop formations; archers in layered ranks; smoke/dust of battle; individualized faces and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jarāsandhastadīritaḥ = jarāsandhaḥ + tadīritaḥ (visarga sandhi). yādavair = yādavaiḥ (visarga/lopa in recitation).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Kṛṣṇa-carita: Jarāsandha conflicts following Kaṃsa-vadha
FAQs
This verse primarily conveys Itihāsa-style narrative content; the technical element is martial vocabulary—siege/blockade (rodha) and archery combat (śaraiḥ).
Alongside ritual, dharma, and śāstra materials, the Agni Purana preserves epic-Puranic political-military narratives—here depicting siege warfare and dynastic conflict involving Mathurā and the Yādavas.
It functions as a moral-historical illustration of how instigation and hostility drive conflict and suffering, a recurring Purāṇic theme used to frame dharma and the consequences of enmity.