Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 21
Chapter 9 — श्रीरामावतारकथनम् (Śrī Rāmāvatāra-kathanam) | Hanumān’s Ocean-Crossing, Sītā-Darśana, and the Setu Plan
दग्ध्वा लङ्कां राक्षसांश् च दृष्ट्वा सीतां प्रणम्य ताम् समुद्रपारमागम्य दृष्टा सीतेति चाब्रवीत्
dagdhvā laṅkāṃ rākṣasāṃś ca dṛṣṭvā sītāṃ praṇamya tām samudrapāramāgamya dṛṣṭā sīteti cābravīt
Сожжя Ланку и ракшасов, увидев Ситу и поклонившись ей, он вновь переправился через океан и сказал: «Сита увидена».
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Illustrates reconnaissance mission completion: confirm Sītā’s location, execute sabotage (burning Laṅkā), and report back—core cycle of intelligence operations.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Laṅkā-dāha, Sītā-darśana, and mission report","lookup_keywords":["laṅkā-dāha","sītā-darśana","samudra-laṅghana","pranāma","dūta-vṛttānta"],"quick_summary":"Hanumān burns Laṅkā, pays reverence to Sītā after seeing her, returns across the ocean, and reports success. The verse compresses sabotage, devotion, and intelligence reporting into one sequence."}
Alamkara Type: Kramānuprāsa/sequence narration (rapid action chain)
Weapon Type: Agni (arson) and physical prowess (laṅghana)
Concept: Bhakti with kartavya: reverence (pranāma) coexists with decisive action; success is sealed by truthful reporting
Application: In duty-bound work, keep humility and respect, yet execute tasks decisively and communicate outcomes clearly
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Katha (Ramayana narrative summary)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A split narrative: Laṅkā’s rooftops burning as Hanumān runs with a flaming tail; then Hanumān bows to Sītā in the grove; finally he leaps back over the ocean and announces success to Rāma’s camp.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych composition, stylized burning city with curling flames, Aśoka-vana with Sītā under a tree, Hanumān in añjali, ocean with rhythmic wave patterns and leaping figure","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted flames and palace domes, Sītā with ornate jewelry and subdued sorrow, Hanumān with halo, ocean leap framed by decorative borders and gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear sequential panels with captions feel, emphasis on narrative readability: burning, bowing, leaping, reporting; soft shading and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed cityscape on fire with smoke plumes, lush garden scene with Sītā and guards, dynamic ocean crossing with foamy waves, camp scene implied for the report"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राक्षसांश् च = राक्षसान् + च (न् + च → ंश् in saṃhitā). समुद्रपारमागम्य = समुद्रपारम् + आगम्य. सीतेति = सीता + इति. चाब्रवीत् = च + अब्रवीत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 9.18-9.20 (capture, ultimatum, tail burning); Agni Purana 9.22 (return to allies and report)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidya is taught here; the verse records Hanuman’s mission-success protocol—locate Sita, offer reverence, return across the ocean, and report the finding.
By embedding an Itihasa (Ramayana) episode within the Purana, it preserves narrative history alongside other disciplines, using exemplary conduct (duty, devotion, effective communication) as practical instruction.
It highlights bhakti and maryada: reverence to the virtuous (Sita) and faithful completion of one’s entrusted duty, presented as dharmic action that supports righteous outcomes.