Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 11
Chapter 7 — रामायणवर्णनं (Description of the Rāmāyaṇa): Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara’s Defeat, and Sītā-haraṇa Prelude
अब्रवीद्रावणं क्रुद्धा न त्वं राजा न रक्षकः खरादिहन्तू रामस्य सीतां भार्यां हरस्व च
abravīdrāvaṇaṃ kruddhā na tvaṃ rājā na rakṣakaḥ kharādihantū rāmasya sītāṃ bhāryāṃ harasva ca
ਗੁੱਸੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਰਾਵਣ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਹਾ—“ਤੂੰ ਨਾ ਰਾਜਾ ਹੈਂ, ਨਾ ਰੱਖਿਆਕ। ਹੇ ਖਰ ਆਦਿ ਦੇ ਸੰਹਾਰਕ! ਜਾ ਕੇ ਰਾਮ ਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਸੀਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਅਗਵਾ ਕਰ।”
Śūrpaṇakhā (taunting/instigating speech, within the Ramayana narrative as retold in Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ethical-political discernment: recognizing adharma in rulers and the destructive counsel of anger, envy, and dishonor.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Adharmic Provocation to Abduct Sita (Ravana Rebuked as Non-Protector)","lookup_keywords":["Ravana","Sita-harana","adharma-rajan","krodha","rakshaka-dharma"],"quick_summary":"The verse frames Ravana’s intended act as anti-royal: a king is defined by protection, not predation. It warns that rage-driven counsel pushes leaders into self-ruinous adharma."}
Alamkara Type: Ninda (garha) with Vakrokti
Concept: Raja-dharma as protection (rakshana) versus tyranny as predation; anger as a catalyst of adharma.
Application: In governance and leadership, evaluate counsel by dharmic outcomes; reject actions that violate protection of dependents and others’ marital bonds.
Khanda Section: Ramayana-akhyana (Itihasa-katha / Narrative Section)
Primary Rasa: Raudra
Secondary Rasa: Bibhatsa
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A furious rakshasi-like figure rebukes Ravana in his court, accusing him of being no true king or protector and urging the abduction of Sita.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, inside Lanka palace court, Ravana seated on ornate simhasana with ten heads suggested symbolically, a wrathful female figure gesturing accusatorily, bold flat colors, lotus motifs, traditional jewelry, dramatic eyes, narrative panel composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Ravana on jeweled throne with rich textiles, gold foil highlights on crown and ornaments, the speaker in dynamic pose pointing, temple-lamp ambience, deep reds and greens, embossed gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, soft shading, courtly interior with pillars, Ravana listening with tense posture, the admonishing figure mid-speech, emphasis on facial expressions and moral tension","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed palace architecture with patterned carpets, Ravana in regal attire, the speaker confronting him, attendants watching, fine brushwork, restrained palette with intricate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"intense","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अब्रवीद्रावणम् = अब्रवीत् + रावणम्; खरादिहन्तुः treated as compound खर+आदि+हन्तुः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 7.12-7.15 (Maricha episode leading to abduction)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse is narrative (itihāsa-kathā), depicting provocation that leads to Sītā-haraṇa.
It shows the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic scope by incorporating itihāsa material (Ramayana episodes) alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and śāstra—preserving ethical exempla through narrative.
The verse highlights adharma-driven counsel (instigation toward abduction), illustrating how anger, insult, and provocation can catalyze grave karmic consequences and downfall.