Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 38
Śrīrāmāvatāravarṇanam (Description of Śrī Rāma’s Incarnation) — Ayodhyā Abhiṣeka, Vanavāsa, Daśaratha’s Death, Bharata’s Regency
कौमारे शरयूतीरे यज्ञदत्तकुमारकः शब्दभेदाच्च कुम्भेन शब्दं कुर्वंश् च तत्पिता
kaumāre śarayūtīre yajñadattakumārakaḥ śabdabhedācca kumbhena śabdaṃ kurvaṃś ca tatpitā
బాల్యంలో శరయూ తీరంలో యజ్ఞదత్త అనే బాలుడు శబ్దభేదం (భ్రమం) వల్ల కుండతో శబ్దం చేస్తుండగా, అతని తండ్రి కూడా అక్కడే ఉన్నాడు।
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic material to Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Serves as a narrative setup for an ethical lesson: misperception (śabda-bheda) can cause unintended harm; stresses caution in action based on uncertain sensory data.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śabda-bheda (sound-misapprehension) on the Śarayū bank: Yajñadatta episode setup","lookup_keywords":["Śarayū","śabda-bheda","kumbha-śabda","Yajñadatta","misperception"],"quick_summary":"A boy makes sound with a water-pot on the riverbank; the motif of mistaken identification of sound foreshadows tragic error and teaches careful verification before acting."}
Concept: Pramāda (carelessness) and bhrānti (error) arising from sensory misreading can generate grave karma.
Application: Verify targets and context before decisive action; in governance, hunting, or conflict, require confirmation to prevent harm to innocents.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Puranic Narrative (Exemplum/Legend used for instruction)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A young boy on the Śarayū riverbank playfully strikes or taps a water-pot, creating loud echoes; nearby, his father is present in the riverside setting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, lush riverbank with stylized waves, boy holding a kumbha making sound, father figure nearby, warm greens and ochres, gentle yet ominous undertone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, riverbank scene with decorative water patterns, boy and pot central, subtle gold highlights on pot and ornaments, background trees and a calm horizon.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of the kumbha and the action producing sound, instructional clarity, soft colors, detailed shoreline plants and ripples.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic river landscape, boy mid-action with pot, father slightly behind, fine detailing of reeds, birds, and water reflections, narrative calm before tragedy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शरयूतीरे = शरयू-तीरे; यज्ञदत्तकुमारकः = यज्ञदत्त-कुमारकः; शब्दभेदाच्च = शब्द-भेदात् + च; कुर्वंश् = कुर्वन्; तत्पिता = तत्-पिता.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: narrative exempla sections illustrating karma and rājadharma; Agni Purana: any dhanur/śastra ethics passages (non-harming, target verification)
FAQs
It introduces a didactic setup centered on śabda-bheda—how a mere distinction or misunderstanding of sound/word can lead to consequential interpretation, forming the basis for a teaching episode.
The Agni Purāṇa often embeds technical points (here, sound/word distinction) inside compact narratives; this method lets it cover diverse disciplines—language, conduct, and doctrine—through memorable exempla.
It signals that care in speech and interpretation matters: errors arising from sound-confusion can produce real outcomes, so disciplined attention (in hearing, speaking, and judging) is spiritually and ethically significant.