Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 20
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
गदयान्यानुजांस्तस्य तस्मिन्नष्टादेशेहनि रात्रौ सुषुप्तञ्च बलं पाण्डवानां न्यपातयत्
gadayānyānujāṃstasya tasminnaṣṭādeśehani rātrau suṣuptañca balaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ nyapātayat
Dengan gada, dia menumbangkan adik-adik lelaki raja itu; dan pada hari kelapan belas, pada waktu malam, ketika bala tentera Pāṇḍava sedang tidur, dia menjatuhkan kekuatan mereka.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic/Itihāsa material to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Encodes a night-raid motif on the eighteenth day: attacking sleeping forces and striking down younger brothers with a mace—useful for discussing battlefield ethics, vigilance, and night-operations in epic narrative.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ratri-abhiyoga (night assault) with gadā on the eighteenth day","lookup_keywords":["ratrौ","susupta","bala","ashtadasha-aha","gada"],"quick_summary":"Narrates a nocturnal attack when the opposing army sleeps, using a mace to strike down key targets—highlighting the peril of night warfare and the theme of breached norms."}
Alamkara Type: Ratri-varnana (nocturnal setting as intensifier)
Weapon Type: Mace (gadā)
Concept: When dharma frays, tactics may turn to nocturnal violence; the narrative warns about moral decline and the cost of negligence.
Application: Maintain vigilance and ethical boundaries under fatigue; in security planning, prioritize night watch, perimeter control, and rules of engagement.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Purana-Katha (Mahabharata narrative allusion)
Primary Rasa: Bhayānaka
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A moonlit camp at night: sleeping soldiers, dim fires, and a lone attacker moving with a mace, striking amid tents; chaos beginning as guards awaken.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, deep indigo night with stylized moon; sleeping camp rendered in rhythmic rows; attacker with gada in stark silhouette; dramatic eyes and sharp outlines; torches as bright accents.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, night scene with gold highlights on moon and torches; attacker emphasized with ornate weapon; sleeping figures simplified; rich dark background and decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear camp layout—tents, sentry points, sleeping ranks; attacker’s path shown through composition; subdued palette suitable for nocturnal instruction-like depiction.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed tents and camp objects; moonlit shadows; attacker with mace moving between sleeping soldiers; small vignettes of awakening guards; realistic night atmosphere."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गदयान्यानुजांस्तस्य = गदया + अन्यान् + अनुजान् + तस्य; तस्मिन्नष्टादेशेहनि = तस्मिन् + अष्टादशे + अहनि; सुषुप्तञ्च = सुषुप्तम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Mahabharata-sangraha: concluding war episodes; Agni Purana Dharmashastra-oriented passages on yuddha-niti (if treated)
FAQs
This verse conveys narrative military context—use of the gadā (mace) and a night assault against a sleeping camp—rather than a ritual procedure; it reflects practical war-episode description (tactics and weapon-use).
By incorporating Itihāsa (Mahābhārata) war-episodes alongside other subjects, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a compendium that preserves narrative history, martial themes, and ethical reflections within a broader encyclopedic framework.
As a war-episode description, it implicitly raises dharma questions about violence and night attacks; the karmic takeaway in Purāṇic reading is that adharma-leaning tactics in conflict are remembered as morally weighty actions with consequences.