Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 19
Chapter 7 — रामायणवर्णनं (Description of the Rāmāyaṇa): Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara’s Defeat, and Sītā-haraṇa Prelude
भव भार्या ममाग्र्या त्वं राक्षस्यो रक्ष्यतामियम् रामो हत्वा तु मारीचं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्
bhava bhāryā mamāgryā tvaṃ rākṣasyo rakṣyatāmiyam rāmo hatvā tu mārīcaṃ dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇamabravīt
ਉਸ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—“ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੀ ਅਗ੍ਰ ਪਤਨੀ ਬਣ; ਇਹ ਰਾਕਸ਼ਸੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰੇ।” ਇਧਰ ਮਾਰੀਚ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਰਾਮ ਨੇ ਹਾਲਾਤ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਲਕਸ਼ਮਣ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਹਾ।
Narrator (Agni Purana’s compendium voice; the quoted speech is attributed in the Ramayana context to Ravana addressing Sita, followed by narrative about Rama speaking to Lakshmana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Contrasts adharma (forced proposal, coercive guarding) with dharmic response (Rāma’s immediate coordination with Lakṣmaṇa after realizing the crisis).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rāvaṇa’s coercive proposal; Rāma’s directive to Lakṣmaṇa","lookup_keywords":["Rāvaṇa-vākya","agra-bhāryā","rākṣasī-rakṣa","Mārīca-vadha","Rāma-Lakṣmaṇa-saṃvāda"],"quick_summary":"Rāvaṇa attempts to legitimize abduction through a forced marriage demand and orders surveillance; Rāma, after the deceptive episode, turns to decisive counsel with Lakṣmaṇa."}
Alamkara Type: Vākya-vaicitrya (direct speech) and virodha (ethical opposition)
Weapon Type: Bow (implied by Rāma’s martial role)
Concept: Adharma cannot be sanctified by speech; dharmic action begins with clear counsel and right intent
Application: Do not accept coerced ‘legitimization’ of wrongdoing; respond to crisis with coordinated, principled action
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Samgraha (Ramayana narrative within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: Raudra
Secondary Rasa: Karuṇa
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāvaṇa commands Sītā to become his chief queen while ordering rākṣasī guards; intercut with Rāma after slaying Mārīca, turning to Lakṣmaṇa with urgent instruction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel narrative: left—Rāvaṇa towering, rākṣasīs guarding Sītā under trees; right—Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in forest, intense gestures, bold outlines and saturated palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central enthroned Rāvaṇa with gold embellishments, Sītā seated aside under a stylized tree, guards flanking; secondary vignette of Rāma-Lakṣmaṇa with bows, gold highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, emphasis on facial expressions: Sītā resolute, Rāvaṇa persuasive/threatening; Rāma instructing Lakṣmaṇa with clear hand gesture, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly garden scene with Rāvaṇa addressing Sītā, attendants detailed; separate register showing Rāma speaking to Lakṣmaṇa in a forest clearing, fine brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ममाग्र्या = मम + अग्र्या; रक्ष्यतामियम् = रक्ष्यताम् + इयम्; लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् = लक्ष्मणम् + अब्रवीत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 7.16 (Mārīca-vadha); Agni Purāṇa 7.18 (Aśoka-vāṭikā confinement); Agni Purāṇa 7.20 (recognition of māyā and abduction inference)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; it is an itihāsa (Ramayana) narrative line highlighting coercive speech and the immediate instruction/response sequence after Maricha’s death.
By embedding epic narrative (Ramayana-prasaṅga) alongside ritual, polity, and śāstra material, the Agni Purana functions as a multi-genre compendium—using itihāsa episodes to convey dharmic and ethical contrasts within its broader encyclopedic scope.
The verse juxtaposes adharma (coercion and threat implied in the rākṣasa context) with dharmic vigilance (the need to protect and respond rightly), underscoring that intent and conduct shape karmic outcomes in epic exempla.