Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 37
Sūryavaṃśa-kīrtana
Proclamation of the Solar Dynasty
निषधात्तु नलो जज्ञे नभो ऽजायत वै नलात् नभसः पुण्डरीको ऽभूत् सुधन्वा च ततो ऽभवत्
niṣadhāttu nalo jajñe nabho 'jāyata vai nalāt nabhasaḥ puṇḍarīko 'bhūt sudhanvā ca tato 'bhavat
நிஷதனிடமிருந்து நலன் பிறந்தான்; நலனிடமிருந்து நபஸ் (நபோ) நிச்சயமாகப் பிறந்தான். நபஸிலிருந்து புண்டரீகன்; அதன் பின் சுதன்வன் தோன்றினான்.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic genealogy to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Continuation of dynastic cataloguing for historians/paurāṇikas: aids chronological anchoring of later stories and preserves royal succession memory.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ikṣvāku-line continuation: Niṣadha to Sudhanvan","lookup_keywords":["Niṣadha","Nala","Nabhas","Puṇḍarīka","Sudhanvan"],"quick_summary":"Provides a compact succession chain: Niṣadha → Nala → Nabhas → Puṇḍarīka → Sudhanvan."}
Concept: Smṛti as structured knowledge: names and order function as a mnemonic map of dharmic history.
Application: Use as a memorization chain (anukrama) for reciters; cross-check with other purāṇic vaṃśāvalīs.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anukramanika (Genealogies and dynastic catalogues)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stylized genealogy tree or royal register tablet showing the sequence Niṣadha → Nala → Nabhas → Puṇḍarīka → Sudhanvan, with small vignettes of each king as a medallion portrait.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style vaṃśa-vṛkṣa with five circular portraits labeled in Devanāgarī; ornamental creepers, traditional color blocks, temple-wall composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style genealogy panel with gold-leaf medallions for each king; central tree motif, rich red background, embossed borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting as an instructional chart: clean calligraphy, arrows between names, small courtly portraits; muted palette with gold accents.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature manuscript folio: margin genealogy list with illuminated cartouches; tiny portraits of kings in profile, fine floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: niṣadhāttu → niṣadhāt tu; nabho 'jāyata → nabhaḥ ajāyata; puṇḍarīko 'bhūt → puṇḍarīkaḥ abhūt; tato 'bhavat → tataḥ abhavat.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa vaṃśānukramaṇikā passages around 272.36–272.39
FAQs
This verse imparts Vamsha-vidyā (genealogical knowledge): a precise succession list of rulers used to preserve dynastic memory and establish legitimacy in Purāṇic historiography.
By cataloguing lineages (Niṣadha → Nala → Nabhas → Puṇḍarīka → Sudhanvan), the Agni Purāṇa functions as a reference compendium—alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts—preserving structured historical-traditional data.
Remembering and transmitting righteous lineages is treated as dharma-supporting remembrance (smṛti/anuśravaṇa), reinforcing continuity of duty, kingship ethics, and ancestral merit within the Purāṇic worldview.