Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 5
Chapter 10 — श्रीरामावतारवर्णनम्
Description of the Incarnation-Deeds of Śrī Rāma
गवाक्षो दधिवक्त्रश् च गवयो गन्धमादनः एते चान्ये च सुग्रीव एतैर् युक्तो ह्य् असङ्ख्यकैः
gavākṣo dadhivaktraś ca gavayo gandhamādanaḥ ete cānye ca sugrīva etair yukto hy asaṅkhyakaiḥ
गवाक्षो दधिवक्त्रश्च गवयो गन्धमादनः। एते चान्ये च सुग्रीव एतैर्युक्तो ह्यसङ्ख्यकैः॥
Lord Agni (narrating a Ramayana synopsis to sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Narrative synopsis and force-description: conveys the scale of Sugrīva’s allied army and names key leaders for remembrance and storytelling.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Sena-varṇana: Sugrīva’s Countless Vānara Leaders","lookup_keywords":["Sugrīva","Gavākṣa","Gandhamādana","vānara","asaṅkhyaka"],"quick_summary":"Names several vānara leaders and emphasizes their innumerable forces allied with Sugrīva. The verse compresses the sense of vast manpower and organized leadership."}
Alamkara Type: Saṅkhyā-atishayokti (hyperbole of countless troops) with nāma-mālā
Concept: Bala (strength) arises from organization and unity; leadership binds many into one purpose.
Application: In collective endeavors: build scalable teams with identifiable leaders; communicate scale to deter opposition and inspire confidence.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Ramayana-Sangraha (Ramayana narrative synopsis within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sugrīva stands with key vānara commanders—Gavākṣa, Dadhivaktra, Gavaya, Gandhamādana—behind him, with an immense army stretching into the distance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Sugrīva as central vānara king with crown; commanders in tiers; dense repeating patterns of troops to suggest innumerability; warm ochres and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Sugrīva with gold halo-like ornamentation; commanders as richly adorned vānara nobles; background filled with stylized army, gold accents for banners.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, assembly scene with clear hierarchy; soft colors; emphasis on faces and insignia to distinguish commanders; instructional roster-like clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, grand military review: Sugrīva and commanders in foreground, countless troops and standards in perspective, detailed landscape and camp elements."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दधिवक्त्रश् च = दधिवक्त्रः + च; चान्ये = च + अन्ये; एतैर् = एतैः (before voiced consonant); ह्य् = हि (before vowel); असङ्ख्यकैः (no sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rāmāyaṇa-saṅgraha: vānara rosters and yuddha transition (10.3–10.6)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as an itihāsa-style catalogue, naming key vanara leaders and emphasizing the vast allied force supporting Sugrīva.
By embedding a compressed Ramayana account, the Agni Purana preserves itihāsa material alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences—showing its encyclopedic method of compiling major cultural narratives and key person-lists (nāma-saṅgraha).
Remembering and reciting itihāsa narratives is traditionally held to support dharma-smṛti and devotion; here, the emphasis on righteous alliance and collective support highlights dharmic cooperation as a meritorious ideal.