Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 29
Description of the Royal Dynasties (राजवंशवर्णनम्) — Chapter Colophon and Transition
मत्स्यकाली कुशाग्रो ऽतो ह्य् आसीद्राज्ञो वृहद्रथात् कुशाग्राद्वृषभो जज्ञे तस्य सत्यहितः सुतः
matsyakālī kuśāgro 'to hy āsīdrājño vṛhadrathāt kuśāgrādvṛṣabho jajñe tasya satyahitaḥ sutaḥ
У царя Vṛhadratha тогда родился Kuśāgra, также называемый Matsyakālī. От Kuśāgra родился Vṛṣabha; а его сыном был Satyahita.
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Tracks Magadha-linked succession (Vṛhadratha line) and preserves alternate epithet (Matsyakālī) for Kuśāgra, aiding identification across Purāṇic variants.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vṛhadratha line: Kuśāgra (Matsyakālī) → Vṛṣabha → Satyahita","lookup_keywords":["Vṛhadratha","Kuśāgra","Matsyakālī","Vṛṣabha","Satyahita"],"quick_summary":"A short dynastic chain gives Kuśāgra’s alternate name (Matsyakālī) and continues the descent to Vṛṣabha and Satyahita, serving as a concordance key for genealogy."}
Concept: Name-variants (paryāya) as keys to textual concordance; genealogy as a knowledge-system for mapping narrative history.
Application: When reading parallel Purāṇas/Itihāsa, use epithets like Matsyakālī to reconcile differing name-forms and avoid duplicate-person errors.
Khanda Section: Vamshanucharita (Genealogies of Kings and Sages)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal genealogy vignette: King Vṛhadratha enthroned; Kuśāgra shown with a caption ‘Matsyakālī’; then Vṛṣabha and Satyahita as successive heirs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: three-generation tableau with stylized thrones and parasols; Kuśāgra labeled Matsyakālī; flat color fields, ornate jewelry, traditional borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central enthroned Vṛhadratha with gold halo; smaller side panels for Kuśāgra (Matsyakālī), Vṛṣabha, Satyahita; embossed gold ornaments and rich brocade patterns.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean genealogical panel with captions and subtle shading; emphasis on the alternate name Matsyakālī as a callout; refined linework and decorative frame.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly succession scene with detailed architecture; each prince presented with attendants; fine calligraphy cartouches for names including Matsyakālī."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुशाग्रो ऽतो → कुशाग्रः अतः; ह्य् आसीद्राज्ञो → हि आसीत् राज्ञः; कुशाग्राद्वृषभो → कुशाग्रात् वृषभः
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Vamśānucarita sequences around Magadha kings and Jarāsandha context
FAQs
This verse transmits vamśa-vidyā (genealogical knowledge): the ordered succession of kings—used in Purāṇic historiography and for anchoring later narratives to specific lineages.
By preserving structured dynastic data (names, succession, epithets), it functions like a historical index alongside the Agni Purana’s other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, and arts), demonstrating its compendium-style organization.
Remembering and reciting righteous lineages (vamśānukīrtana) is traditionally regarded as punya-generating, reinforcing dharma through exemplars of kingship and continuity of sacred history.