Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 17
Varāhādy-avatāra-varṇana
Description of Varāha and Other Incarnations
युद्धे परशुना राजा धेनुः स्वाश्रममाययौ कार्त्तवीर्यस्य पुत्रैस्तु जमदग्निर्निपातितः
yuddhe paraśunā rājā dhenuḥ svāśramamāyayau kārttavīryasya putraistu jamadagnirnipātitaḥ
Na batalha, o rei foi morto por Paraśu (Paraśurāma) com o seu machado; e a vaca retornou ao seu próprio āśrama. Mas os filhos de Kārttavīrya mataram Jamadagni.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Shows escalation of vengeance: even after the offender is punished, retaliatory violence by kin perpetuates cycles; underscores protection of sages and consequences of kṣatriya rage.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Aftermath: Kāmadhenu returns; Jamadagni slain by Kārttavīrya’s sons","lookup_keywords":["Kāmadhenu-return","Jamadagni-vadha","Kārttavīrya-putrāḥ","Paraśurāma","vaira"],"quick_summary":"Though Paraśurāma kills the king and restores Kāmadhenu to the āśrama, the king’s sons murder Jamadagni—setting the stage for Paraśurāma’s larger retribution."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (contrast): restoration of cow vs murder of sage
Weapon Type: Axe (implied), swords/spears (princes implied)
Concept: Vaira (enmity) multiplies suffering; adharma against sages intensifies karmic consequence.
Application: Break cycles of retaliation; uphold protections for religious/neutral persons; establish restraint and reparative justice after conflict.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Puranic Narrative (Avatara/Anvaya Episodes; Kshatriya-Veeracharita)
Primary Rasa: Karuṇa
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Type: Forest hermitage
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kāmadhenu walks back to the hermitage while Jamadagni lies slain; armed princes stand as perpetrators, the forest āśrama in the background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: poignant tableau—Kāmadhenu returning with gentle gaze; Jamadagni fallen near sacred fire; princes with harsh expressions; strong color symbolism (calm greens vs violent reds).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: devotional yet tragic—Kāmadhenu luminous with gold accents; Jamadagni depicted with serene face even in death; princes smaller, darker tones; gold leaf on āśrama elements.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear narrative composition—foreground cow moving toward hut; midground fallen sage; background princes departing; soft palette, didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed forest hermitage with utensils, deer and birds; cow in motion; dramatic but restrained depiction of death; princes in courtly attire with weapons."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वाश्रममाययौ = स्व + आश्रमम् + आययौ (अ+आ→आ); पुत्रैस्तु = पुत्रैः + तु (विसर्ग→स्); जमदग्निर्निपातितः = जमदग्निः + निपातितः (विसर्ग-लोप).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 4.18 (Paraśurāma returns and grieves); Agni Purana narratives of Paraśurāma’s kṣatriya-nigraha (elsewhere)
FAQs
No ritual procedure is taught here; the verse transmits Itihasa-Puranic narrative knowledge—linking martial action (battle) with the consequential killing of a sage, a key trigger for later dharmic retribution.
Alongside its ritual, polity, and scientific sections, the Agni Purana preserves genealogical and moral-historical narratives; this verse exemplifies how it integrates epic-style history (kings, sages, conflicts) to contextualize dharma, kingship, and the ethics of violence.
The killing of Jamadagni (a brahmarṣi) is presented as a grave adharma that generates powerful karmic backlash, setting the moral basis for subsequent acts of vengeance and the restoration of dharmic order.