Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 27
Description of the Royal Dynasties (राजवंशवर्णनम्) — Chapter Colophon and Transition
कुरोः सुधन्वा सुधनुः परिक्षिच्चारिमेजयः सुधन्वनः सुहोत्रो ऽभूत् सुहोत्राच्च्यवनो ह्य् अभूत्
kuroḥ sudhanvā sudhanuḥ parikṣiccārimejayaḥ sudhanvanaḥ suhotro 'bhūt suhotrāccyavano hy abhūt
कुरोः सुधन्वा, सुधन्वनः सुधनुः; सुधन्वनः परिक्षित्, परिक्षितश्चारिमेजयः। आरिमेजयात् सुधन्वा, सुधन्वनः सुहोत्रः; सुहोत्राच्च्यवनो ह्यभूत्॥
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic knowledge to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Genealogical indexing for Itihāsa-Purāṇa study: remembering succession in the Kuru line for ritual recitation, historical framing, and narrative continuity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kuru lineage: Sudhanvā to Cyavana","lookup_keywords":["Kuru-vaṃśa","Sudhanvā","Parikṣit","Ārimejaya","Cyavana"],"quick_summary":"A compact dynastic list traces descent from Kuru through several kings, functioning as a mnemonic chain for Purāṇic genealogy."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (name-chain cadence)
Concept: Smṛti through structured enumeration: knowledge preserved by ordered name-lists (paramparā).
Application: Use as a recitation scaffold in Purāṇa-pāṭha; cross-checking lineages across texts and anchoring narrative chronology.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anucharita (Genealogies of royal lineages)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stylized genealogical scroll or court bard reciting the Kuru succession—Kuru, Sudhanvā, Sudhanu, Parikṣit, Ārimejaya, Sudhanvan, Suhotra, Cyavana—shown as medallion portraits in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: horizontal frieze of royal bust medallions with name captions in Devanāgarī style, a sūta/paurāṇika reciter at one end; flat iconic faces, strong outlines, traditional jewelry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: eight small portrait panels with gold halos for each ancestor, arranged like a genealogical garland; rich red/green background, embossed gold work, central reciter holding palm-leaf manuscript.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: manuscript-illustration feel—clean genealogical tree diagram with delicate figures, emphasis on clarity and order; soft shading, ornate borders.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court scene with a historian/poet reading a genealogy register; behind him, a painted genealogical chart with roundels containing each king’s portrait, fine detailing and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: परिक्षिच्चारिमेजयः → परिक्षित् चारिमेजयः; सुहोत्रो ऽभूत् → सुहोत्रः अभूत्; सुहोत्राच्च्यवनो → सुहोत्रात् च्यवनः; ह्य् अभूत् → हि अभूत्
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa genealogical sequences for Puru/Kuru lines in the same khanda
FAQs
This verse imparts vamśa-vidyā (dynastic/genealogical knowledge): a precise succession list of Kuru-line descendants used to preserve historical memory and Purāṇic chronology.
By cataloging royal lineages, the Agni Purana functions as a historical-chronological register alongside its many other disciplines (ritual, polity, medicine, arts), showing its encyclopedic scope beyond purely devotional material.
Remembering and reciting righteous lineages is traditionally viewed as smṛti-dharma that supports dharma, reinforces exemplars of kingship, and yields merit through preservation of sacred-historical tradition.