Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 15
Chapter 13 — कुरुपाण्डवोत्पत्त्यादिकथनं
Narration of the Origin of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, and Related Matters
अर्धराज्यं ततः प्राप्ता ज्ञाता दुर्योधनादिभिः गाण्डीवञ्च धनुर्दिव्यं पावकाद्रथमुत्तमम्
ardharājyaṃ tataḥ prāptā jñātā duryodhanādibhiḥ gāṇḍīvañca dhanurdivyaṃ pāvakādrathamuttamam
Selepas itu mereka memperoleh separuh kerajaan; hal itu diketahui oleh Duryodhana dan yang lain. Dan Arjuna menerima busur ilahi Gāṇḍīva serta sebuah kereta perang unggul daripada Pāvaka (Agni).
Lord Agni (Agni Purana narrator) addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha (frame narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Uses Mahabharata exempla to frame how divine-grade weapons/vehicles (Gāṇḍīva, ratha) function as instruments of kshatriya-dharma and battlefield efficacy.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gāṇḍīva-dhanuḥ and Pāvaka-pradatta ratha (Arjuna’s divine armament)","lookup_keywords":["Gāṇḍīva","Pāvaka","divya-dhanuḥ","ratha","Arjuna"],"quick_summary":"Narrative marker: after political settlement (half-kingdom), Arjuna is equipped with divinely sourced bow and chariot—signaling legitimacy and superior martial capacity."}
Weapon Type: Bow (Gāṇḍīva)
Concept: Kshatriya legitimacy is reinforced by both political allotment (rājya-bhāga) and divinely sanctioned instruments of protection.
Application: In governance narratives, material power (arms, vehicles) must align with dharmic entitlement and public recognition.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Smarana (Mahabharata narratives within the Agni Purana; Rajadharma & Dhanurveda-associated exempla)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Arjuna receiving the radiant Gāṇḍīva bow and an excellent chariot bestowed by Pāvaka (Agni), while the political news reaches Duryodhana’s camp.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, flat vibrant colors, Arjuna in heroic stance receiving glowing Gāṇḍīva from a fiery Agni-deity, ornate ratha beside, attendants and distant Kaurava spies, temple-mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold leaf highlights on the divine bow and chariot ornaments, Agni with aureole, Arjuna richly adorned, jewel-toned background, embossed detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: bow, quiver, chariot parts rendered neatly; Agni bestowing weapons; subdued palette with gold accents","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly realism: Arjuna receiving bow and chariot in a forest-edge pavilion, Agni as a luminous figure, Kaurava messengers observing, fine textiles and detailed horses"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गाण्डीवञ्च = गाण्डीवम् + च; धनुर्दिव्यं = धनुः + दिव्यम्; पावकाद्रथमुत्तमम् = पावकात् + रथम् + उत्तमम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 13.16; Agni Purana 13.17; Agni Purana 13.18
FAQs
The verse conveys Dhanurveda-linked lore through the provenance of key martial equipment—Arjuna’s divine bow Gāṇḍīva and a superior chariot—explicitly attributed to Pāvaka (Agni), anchoring weapon legitimacy in divine bestowal.
By embedding an Itihasa (Mahābhārata) episode inside a Purāṇic framework, it cross-indexes governance history (division of sovereignty as ardharājya) with military-science exempla (divine bow and chariot), illustrating how the Agni Purana compiles statecraft and warfare lore alongside theology.
It presents rightful power and prowess as outcomes aligned with dharma and divine sanction—kingdom-share and martial capability are shown as gifts/dispensations rather than mere human conquest, implying merit and cosmic order behind worldly authority.