Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 7
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
बभूव स्वस्थदेवानां पश्यतां प्रीतिवर्धनं भीष्मोस्त्रैः पाण्डवं सैन्यं दशाहोभिर्न्यपातयत्
babhūva svasthadevānāṃ paśyatāṃ prītivardhanaṃ bhīṣmostraiḥ pāṇḍavaṃ sainyaṃ daśāhobhirnyapātayat
தேவர்கள் பாதுகாப்பாகக் கண்டு மகிழ்ச்சி பெருக, பீஷ்மன் தன் அஸ்திரங்களால் பத்து நாட்களில் பாண்டவ சேனையை வீழ்த்தினான்.
Lord Agni (narrating puranic-itihasa material to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Highlights battlefield effectiveness of sustained missile warfare and the morale/psychological dimension (spectatorship of gods, ‘delight’), useful for understanding ancient war-chronicle as tactical exemplar.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhīṣma’s Ten-Day Missile Campaign","lookup_keywords":["Bhīṣma","astra","daśāha","Pāṇḍava sainya","deva-darśana"],"quick_summary":"Bhīṣma’s concentrated use of missiles is portrayed as decisively reducing the Pāṇḍava forces within ten days, witnessed by the gods as a spectacle of martial prowess."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbolic elevation)
Weapon Type: Bow (missile/arrow warfare implied by astras)
Concept: Efficacy of disciplined martial skill and command in determining outcomes within dharmic constraints.
Application: For leadership studies: sustaining operational effectiveness, morale management, and recognizing phases of conflict.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Smarana (Mahabharata narrative within Purana; exemplary war-chronicle used for Dharma and Dhanurveda context)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bhīṣma on his chariot releases volleys of missiles; the Pāṇḍava ranks thin and fall back. In the sky, serene gods watch, suggesting protected spectatorship and cosmic witnessing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Bhīṣma in profile on chariot with ornate bow, repeated arrow motifs as rhythmic pattern, Pāṇḍava soldiers falling in stylized poses, gods seated in clouds above, bold flat colors, decorative borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Bhīṣma as central figure with gold halo and embossed ornaments, chariot and bow highlighted with gold work, layered battlefield behind, small upper register of gods watching, jewel-toned palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of missile volleys and formations, Bhīṣma’s chariot centered, gods as calm observers in a top panel, fine lines, soft colors, didactic composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dynamic archery scene with dense detail—arrows mid-flight, soldiers reacting, dust clouds; gods rendered as ethereal figures in the sky margin, meticulous textiles and armor"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वस्थदेवानां = स्वस्थ-देवानाम्; प्रीतिवर्धनं = प्रीति-वर्धनम्; भीष्मोस्त्रैः = भीष्म-अस्त्रैः; दशाहोभिः = दश-अहोभिः; न्यपातयत् = नि + अपातयत् (नि-उपसर्गयुक्त णिच्-रूप)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Mahābhārata-saṃgraha passages on Bhīṣma’s command; Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections on astra usage (general)
FAQs
It primarily conveys Dhanurveda-oriented war knowledge in narrative form—highlighting the decisive efficacy of astras (missiles/weapons) and the time-bound outcome of a campaign (ten days under Bhīṣma).
By embedding Mahābhārata battlefield history inside a Purāṇic compendium, it preserves Itihasa alongside applied domains like Dhanurveda—showing how epic events are used as instructional exemplars within the Agni Purana’s multi-topic structure.
The verse frames victory and destruction as outcomes witnessed even by the gods, implying that martial success operates under fate/dharma and accumulated karma, not merely human effort—reinforcing the moral causality behind historical events.