Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 8
Chapter 13 — कुरुपाण्डवोत्पत्त्यादिकथनं
Narration of the Origin of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, and Related Matters
धृतराष्ट्रो ऽम्बालिकायां पाण्डुश् च व्यासतः सुतः गान्धार्यां धृतराष्ट्राच्च दुर्योधनमुखं शतम्
dhṛtarāṣṭro 'mbālikāyāṃ pāṇḍuś ca vyāsataḥ sutaḥ gāndhāryāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrācca duryodhanamukhaṃ śatam
அம்பாலிகாவின் கருவில் வியாசர் த்ருதராஷ்டிரனையும் பாண்டுவையும் மகன்களாகப் பெற்றார்; மேலும் காந்தாரியின் கருவில் த்ருதராஷ்டிரனுக்கு துரியோதனன் தலைமையிலான நூறு மகன்கள் பிறந்தனர்.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic-epic genealogy to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"वंशावली-स्मरण/इतिहास-ज्ञान: पात्र-संबंध स्पष्ट कर धर्म-इतिहास/महाभारत-प्रसंगों की समझ।","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"व्यास-नियोग से धृतराष्ट्र-पाण्डु तथा गान्धारी से कौरव-शत","lookup_keywords":["धृतराष्ट्र","पाण्डु","व्यास","गान्धारी","कौरव"],"quick_summary":"अम्बालिका से व्यास द्वारा धृतराष्ट्र और पाण्डु उत्पन्न हुए; गान्धारी से धृतराष्ट्र के सौ पुत्र (दुर्योधन-प्रधान) उत्पन्न हुए—महाभारत-वंश-मानचित्र का संक्षेप।"}
Concept: इतिहास-ज्ञान (genealogy) को स्मृति-परंपरा में संरक्षित करना।
Application: वंश/परिवार-रिकॉर्ड, उत्तराधिकार-सम्बन्ध, और कथानक-अध्ययन में संदर्भ-मानचित्र बनाना।
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Vamsha–Anukramanika (Genealogies and epic lineage summaries)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"व्यास ऋषि के सामने अम्बालिका; पीछे धृतराष्ट्र-पाण्डु के शैशव-रूप; दूसरी ओर गान्धारी और शिशुओं का समूह (कौरव-शत) का प्रतीकात्मक चित्रण।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sage Vyasa blessing queens, symbolic depiction of Dhritarashtra and Pandu as infants, Gandhari with many cradles suggested as patterned motif, traditional flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Vyasa with halo-like aura, queens in royal attire, gold leaf on ornaments, stylized rows of cradles representing Kaurava hundred","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, genealogical tableau, clear labeling-like composition, Vyasa central, Ambalika and Gandhari on sides, infants depicted symbolically","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior with Vyasa, queens seated, attendants, subtle symbolic repetition of cradles/infants for the hundred sons, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dhṛtarāṣṭro 'mbālikāyāṃ → dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ ambālikāyām; pāṇḍuś ca → pāṇḍuḥ ca; dhṛtarāṣṭrācca → dhṛtarāṣṭrāt ca.
Related Themes: अग्निपुराण 13 (महाभारत-सार: कौरव-पाण्डव-उत्पत्ति)
FAQs
This verse imparts vamśa-vidyā (genealogical knowledge): it records royal descent—Vyāsa’s begetting of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Pāṇḍu, and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s hundred sons through Gāndhārī—used for Itihāsa contextualization and dynastic reckoning.
By compressing Mahābhārata-era dynastic data into a concise catalog, it shows the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic method: alongside rituals, polity, and arts, it preserves historical-epic lineages as reference knowledge for dharma, kingship, and narrative tradition.
Remembering and accurately transmitting sacred lineages (vamśa-smṛti) supports dharma-smṛti and Itihāsa preservation; it reinforces the moral frame of the Mahābhārata by grounding later actions in inherited duties, bonds, and karmic consequences.