Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 4
Chapter 19 — कश्यपवंशवर्णनम्
Description of Kaśyapa’s Lineage
बहुपुत्रस्थ विदुषश् चतस्रो विद्युतः सुताः प्रत्यङ्गिरजाः श्रेष्ठाः कृशाश्वस्य सुरायुधाः
bahuputrastha viduṣaś catasro vidyutaḥ sutāḥ pratyaṅgirajāḥ śreṣṭhāḥ kṛśāśvasya surāyudhāḥ
బహుపుత్రుని నుండి ఒక విద్వాంసుడు జన్మించాడు. అతని నలుగురు కుమారులు ‘విద్యుత్’లు—ప్రత్యంగిరాజులు, శ్రేష్ఠులు, కృశాశ్వ వంశస్థులు, దివ్యాయుధధారులు.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Locating the mythic origins of astras and divine-weapon lineages; used to legitimize transmission (paramparā) of weapon-science and mantra-astra traditions.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kṛśāśva-vaṃśa: Vidyut-putrāḥ and Surāyudha-paramparā","lookup_keywords":["Kṛśāśva","Vidyut","Pratyaṅgirā","surāyudha","astra lineage"],"quick_summary":"Connects a sage-lineage (Kṛśāśva) with Pratyaṅgirā-derived Vidyut sons who bear divine weapons, presenting a Purāṇic pedigree for astravidyā."}
Alamkara Type: Guṇa-kīrtana (epithetic praise: viduṣaḥ, śreṣṭhāḥ)
Weapon Type: Astra (divine weapons) broadly; surāyudha (deva-weapons)
Concept: Power (astra) is legitimate when grounded in vidyā and sanctified lineage; mantra and discipline elevate weaponry to dharmic protection.
Application: For practitioners: treat martial skill as a vowed discipline—study, restraint, and correct initiation—rather than brute force.
Khanda Section: Genealogy & Deva-astra Traditions (Dhanurveda / Astravidya context)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lineage tableau: an elder sage (Bahuputra line) with four radiant ‘Vidyut’ sons, each holding a different divine weapon; a fierce protective Pratyaṅgirā aura or emblem behind them, suggesting mantra-charged armaments.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of four ascetic-warriors with lightning-like radiance, holding bow, sword, spear, and discus-like weapon; background shows a stylized Pratyaṅgirā (lion-faced śakti) as protective halo, bold outlines, earthy reds and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of four weapon-bearing sages with gold foil halos and weapon highlights, embossed ornaments on weapons, Pratyaṅgirā emblem behind as a gilded aureole, symmetrical composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with clear instructional depiction of four weapon types and their holders, fine linework, subdued palette; inset showing lineage name ‘Kṛśāśva’ and ‘Pratyaṅgirā’ as source of power","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of an āśrama training scene: guru-sage presenting divine weapons to four disciples, detailed foliage and hermitage setting, subtle lightning motifs around weapons, refined faces and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बहुपुत्रस्थ (समासरूप); विदुषश्→विदुषः। ‘चतस्रः विद्युतः सुताः’ इत्यत्र ‘विद्युतः’ प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dhanurveda chapters on bows, arrows, astras, and training; Agni Purana: mantra/yantra and protective rites connected to fierce śaktis
FAQs
It transmits astravidyā-oriented lineage knowledge: identifying a hereditary/initiatory line of divine-weapon bearers (surāyudhāḥ) connected to Kṛśāśva and the Pratyaṅgirā/Aṅgiras stream.
By cataloging specialists and descent lines associated with celestial weapons, it functions like a reference index for Dhanurveda/Astravidyā—typical of the Agni Purana’s compendium style across many disciplines.
It emphasizes that sacred power (especially astras) is traditionally preserved through qualified lineages and transmission, implying dharmic restraint and purity in handling divine forces.