Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 23
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
गोपीभिरनुरक्ताभिः क्रीडिताभिर् निरीक्षितः रजकं चाप्रयच्छन्तं हत्वा वस्त्राणि चाग्रहीत्
gopībhiranuraktābhiḥ krīḍitābhir nirīkṣitaḥ rajakaṃ cāprayacchantaṃ hatvā vastrāṇi cāgrahīt
ਪਿਆਰ ਨਾਲ ਖੇਡ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਗੋਪੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ, ਜੋ ਰਜਕ (ਧੋਬੀ) ਕੱਪੜੇ ਦੇਣ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਕਰਿਆ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਵਸਤ੍ਰ ਲੈ ਲਏ।
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s frame-dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Illustrates ethics of service and hospitality: refusal of rightful request (especially to the divine guest) leads to consequence; also frames the transition to Mathurā’s public arena (garments for entry).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gopī-līlā observation; Rajaka-vadha and garment acquisition","lookup_keywords":["gopī","rajaka","vastra","Mathurā","Kṛṣṇa-līlā"],"quick_summary":"Amid the gopīs’ affectionate play, Kṛṣṇa confronts the washerman who refuses garments, slays him, and takes the clothes—signaling both divine authority and the narrative preparation for Mathurā."}
Alamkara Type: Śṛṅgāra (līlā-pradhāna varṇana)
Concept: Atithi-satkara and dāna: refusal rooted in arrogance/servility to adharma (Kaṁsa) is censured; divine justice can be swift.
Application: Cultivate generosity and right allegiance; do not deny rightful aid due to fear of unjust authority.
Khanda Section: Avataras / Krishna-Charita (Narrative of Vishnu’s incarnations)
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: City vicinity
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kṛṣṇa, watched by affectionate gopīs, confronts a washerman carrying bundles of royal garments; upon refusal, the washerman is struck down and Kṛṣṇa takes the clothes, with gopīs reacting in surprise.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Kṛṣṇa in blue with gopīs in ornate dress at left, washerman with cloth bundles at right, dynamic gesture at the moment of confrontation, expressive eyes and bold outlines, temple-mural palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Kṛṣṇa holding bright garments with gold highlights, gopīs behind in devotional admiration, washerman depicted smaller and tense, gold leaf on textiles and jewelry, rich decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, emphasis on textile detail—folds, patterns, bundles—Kṛṣṇa’s calm face contrasted with washerman’s refusal, gopīs as onlookers, refined linework and gentle shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, street-side scene near Mathurā with realistic cloth bundles, attendants and gopīs in the background, decisive action frozen mid-moment, intricate fabric patterns and architectural hints."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gopībhiranuraktābhiḥ = gopībhiḥ anuraktābhiḥ; krīḍitābhir = krīḍitābhiḥ; cāprayacchantam = ca aprayacchantam; cāgrahīt = ca agrahīt.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Krishna-Charita: Mathurā entry sequence including Kubjā and elephant episode (12.24)
FAQs
This verse is primarily narrative (avatāra-carita), not a procedural vidyā; it conveys a dharmic-ethical motif where refusal and hostility toward the divine request leads to immediate consequence, while the episode also frames Krishna’s royal/princely appropriation of garments.
By embedding avatāra narratives alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and aesthetics, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium; this shloka exemplifies the Purana’s historiographic/storytelling layer that complements its technical chapters, preserving well-known Krishna episodes within a broader knowledge-archive.
The passage underscores karmic immediacy in Purāṇic ethics: denying or obstructing a righteous/divine request is portrayed as adharma with swift consequence, while devotion (the gopīs’ affectionate presence) is shown as the proper spiritual orientation.