Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 27
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
अश्वमेधे ददौ दानं ब्राह्मणेभ्योरिमर्दनः श्रुत्वार्जुनान्मौषलेयं यादवानाञ्च सङ्क्षयम् राज्ये परीक्षितं स्थाप्य सानुजः स्वर्गमाप्तवान्
aśvamedhe dadau dānaṃ brāhmaṇebhyorimardanaḥ śrutvārjunānmauṣaleyaṃ yādavānāñca saṅkṣayam rājye parīkṣitaṃ sthāpya sānujaḥ svargamāptavān
Sesudah melaksanakan Aśvamedha, si pemusnah musuh itu mengurniakan dana kepada para brāhmaṇa. Setelah mendengar daripada Arjuna tentang kebinasaan di Mausala dan lenyapnya kaum Yādava, baginda menabalkan Parīkṣit di takhta dan bersama adik-adiknya mencapai svarga.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic history to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Model of post-war state restoration: perform legitimizing royal rite (Aśvamedha), redistribute wealth via brāhmaṇa-dāna, manage intelligence/news (Mausala catastrophe), ensure succession (install Parīkṣit), then retire/renounce.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Aśvamedha, Brāhmaṇa-dāna, Succession of Parīkṣit, and Svargārohaṇa","lookup_keywords":["Aśvamedha","dāna","Mausala","Yādava-kṣaya","Parīkṣit"],"quick_summary":"After the Aśvamedha, gifts to brāhmaṇas and orderly succession stabilize the realm. Hearing of the Yādavas’ end, the ruler installs Parīkṣit and withdraws, attaining heaven with his brothers."}
Concept: Righteous kingship includes yajña, dāna, and orderly succession; awareness of impermanence (dynastic destruction) supports timely renunciation.
Application: In governance: legitimize authority ethically, fund learned institutions, plan succession early, and step down when duty is complete to prevent power-vacuum conflict.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Purana Sankalana (Mahabharata aftermath; Rajadharma and succession)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Aśvamedha completion with royal gifts to brāhmaṇas; Arjuna reporting the Mausala devastation; enthronement of young Parīkṣit; the elder brothers departing toward heaven.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative panel: sacrificial horse and altar, brāhmaṇas receiving gifts, Arjuna delivering grave news, coronation of Parīkṣit, final departure; bold outlines, ritual reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, coronation centerpiece with Parīkṣit on throne, gold-leaf ornaments, side vignette of Aśvamedha altar and dāna, dignified Pandavas with halos, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear sequential storyboard with captions: Aśvamedha, dāna, Mausala report, rājyābhiṣeka; refined linework, instructional clarity, soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scene of gift-giving and coronation, detailed textiles and architecture, Arjuna as messenger, subtle sorrow in faces, balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brāhmaṇebhyorimardanaḥ = brāhmaṇebhyaḥ arimardanaḥ; śrutvārjunāt = śrutvā arjunāt; yādavānāñca = yādavānām ca; svargamāptavān = svargam āptavān.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dāna-dharma chapters (merit and proper recipients); Agni Purana: Rājadharma passages on succession and abdication/retirement; Agni Purana: Itihāsa-saṅgraha sections on Mahābhārata aftermath
FAQs
It highlights the Aśvamedha’s expected completion practice: formal dāna (donative gifts) to brāhmaṇas as an integral ritual and social obligation accompanying the sacrifice.
It compresses multiple knowledge domains—Vedic ritual economy (Aśvamedha and dāna), historical-epic transmission (Mausala and the Yādava end), and governance (installing Parīkṣit)—showing how the Agni Purāṇa integrates ritual, history, and statecraft.
The verse frames righteous kingship as ending with proper ritual giving, responsible succession, and renunciation—actions presented as leading to svarga (heaven) through fulfilled duty (dharma) and merit (puṇya).