Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 14
Chapter 7 — रामायणवर्णनं (Description of the Rāmāyaṇa): Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara’s Defeat, and Sītā-haraṇa Prelude
मारीचो रावणं प्राह रामो मृत्युर्धनुर्धरः रावणादपि मर्तव्यं मर्तव्यं राघवादपि
mārīco rāvaṇaṃ prāha rāmo mṛtyurdhanurdharaḥ rāvaṇādapi martavyaṃ martavyaṃ rāghavādapi
Марича сказал Раване: «Рама, воин с луком, — сама Смерть. Можно погибнуть и от руки Раваны; но можно, несомненно, погибнуть и от руки Рагхавы».
Maricha (advising Ravana, within Agni Purana’s narrated Ramayana episode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Strategic risk assessment: recognizing superior martial force and advising against reckless engagement; choosing the least dishonorable/least harmful outcome when trapped.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Maricha’s Counsel: Rama the Bow-Bearer as Mrityu (Inevitable Death)","lookup_keywords":["Maricha","Rama","dhanurdhara","mrityu","counsel"],"quick_summary":"Maricha warns that Rama is ‘Death’—a decisive archer whose encounter is fatal. The counsel functions as a compact maxim on assessing an opponent’s capability before committing to conflict."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka (Rama = Mrityu)
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Pragmatic discernment (niti): evaluate power realities; fatalism as a rhetorical tool to restrain hubris.
Application: Before confrontation, seek informed counsel; if a conflict is unwinnable, de-escalate rather than double down on pride.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Ramayana-Katha (Narrative Section: Ramayana episode within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: Veera
Secondary Rasa: Bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Maricha warns Ravana in counsel, describing Rama the bowman as Death itself—an unavoidable force.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two figures in intense dialogue in Lanka court, Maricha with restrained, serious expression and raised hand of warning, Ravana proud and dismissive, stylized bow motif or aura indicating Rama’s lethal prowess","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, courtly counsel scene with gold accents, Maricha gesturing in admonition, Ravana on throne, symbolic bow and arrow motif in background medallion representing Rama as ‘Mrityu’","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, emphasis on didactic counsel: Maricha’s calm face, Ravana’s pride, clean architectural setting, subtle symbolic vignette of Rama with bow in a corner panel","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate advisory scene with detailed textiles, Maricha leaning forward warning, Ravana half-turned in skepticism, fine facial expressions, symbolic cartouche showing Rama with bow"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"grave","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मृत्युः धनुर्धरः = मृत्यु: + धनुर्धरः (visarga sandhi); रावणादपि = रावणात् + अपि; राघवादपि = राघवात् + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 7.15 (Maricha’s choice: better to die by Rama)
FAQs
No ritual vidyā is taught here; it conveys strategic counsel and realism in warfare—Marīca frames Rāma as an unavoidable lethal force, warning against provoking a superior archer.
The Agni Purana integrates Itihasa narrative as a vehicle for instruction—here, political and military prudence (nīti) and the consequences of arrogance are taught through the Ramayana storyline.
It underscores karmic inevitability: adharma-driven aggression invites destruction, while recognizing dharmic power (Rāma) is portrayed as acknowledging the moral order that governs outcomes.