Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 6
Somavaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lunar Dynasty
स्वकीया इव सोमो ऽपि कामयामास तास्तदा एवं कृतापचारस्य तासां भर्तृगणस्तदा
svakīyā iva somo 'pi kāmayāmāsa tāstadā evaṃ kṛtāpacārasya tāsāṃ bhartṛgaṇastadā
ସେତେବେଳେ ସୋମ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିଜର ଭଳି ଭାବି କାମନା କଲା। ଏଭଳି ଅପଚାର କରିଥିବାରୁ ସେହି ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କର ପତିଗଣ ସେତେବେଳେ ତାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ କ୍ରୋଧିତ ହେଲେ।
Lord Agni (narrating)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Ethical governance and personal conduct: recognizing that illicit desire (parastrigamana/agamya) triggers social retaliation and karmic consequence; useful for teaching boundaries, consent, and social dharma in narrative form.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Soma’s Aparadha: Desire for Others’ Wives and Social Retribution","lookup_keywords":["Soma","parastrigamana","aparadha","bhartṛgana","karmaphala"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames illicit desire as an aparādha that provokes the offended husbands and sets in motion conflict. It functions as a moral-causality seed for the ensuing narrative."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (implicit contrast of ‘as if his own’ vs actually others’ wives)
Concept: Aparādha (adharmic desire) generates immediate social and karmic reaction; ‘svakīya-buddhi’ toward what is not one’s own is delusion.
Application: Use as a case-study in dharma education: restrain kāma by viveka; respect marital/social boundaries to prevent enmity and downfall.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Puranic Narrative (Chandra–Tara episode / moral causality)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Soma, captivated, looks upon the wives of sages/devas as if they were his own; the husbands gather in indignation, foreshadowing confrontation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, flat vibrant colors, Soma with crescent and moonlike aura gazing with desire, group of offended husbands/sages with stern faces, temple-mural composition, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Soma with halo and crescent, rich jewelry, gold-leaf highlights, the women in traditional attire, husbands in angry stance, iconic frontal arrangement","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, subdued palette, narrative panel showing Soma’s covetous glance and the husbands assembling, emphasis on facial expression and moral tension","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly garden setting, Soma as regal figure, women and their husbands in detailed textiles, subtle psychological drama, fine architectural backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Dhanyasi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सोमो ऽपि = सोमः + अपि; तास्तदा = ताः + तदा; भर्तृगणस्तदा = भर्तृगणः + तदा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 273.8; Agni Purana 273.9; Agni Purana 273.10
FAQs
No ritual procedure is taught here; the verse conveys ethical instruction—unchecked desire (kāma) leading to apacāra (offence) and social retaliation.
Alongside ritual, polity, and śāstra topics, the Agni Purana preserves itihāsa-style moral narratives that function as practical dharma teaching through exemplars and consequences.
It highlights that treating others as ‘one’s own’ through desire is an apacāra that generates immediate opposition and adverse karmic results, reinforcing restraint and respect for social-dharmic boundaries.