Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 10
Śrīrāmāvatāra-kathana (Account of the Rāma Incarnation) — Kiṣkindhā Alliance and the Search for Sītā
इत्युक्ता वानराः पूर्व- पश्चिमोत्तरमार्गगाः जग्मू रामं ससुग्रीवम् अपश्यन्तस् तु जानकीम्
ityuktā vānarāḥ pūrva- paścimottaramārgagāḥ jagmū rāmaṃ sasugrīvam apaśyantas tu jānakīm
అలా ఆజ్ఞాపించబడిన వానరులు తూర్పు, పడమర, ఉత్తర మార్గాలుగా బయలుదేరారు; వారు సుగ్రీవుడితో కలిసి రాముని చేరినా జానకిని చూడలేకపోయారు।
Agni (narrating puranic-itihasa content to Vasiṣṭha, in the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Coordinated field deployment and reporting: teams move by assigned routes; outcome reporting includes failure to locate the target.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vanara teams depart by east–west–north routes; Janaki not found","lookup_keywords":["vanara routes","east west north","search mission","failure report","Janaki not found"],"quick_summary":"Even with organized deployment by directions, reconnaissance may fail; the narrative records the operational outcome to drive the next decision."}
Concept: Purushakara with anishchaya (human effort amid uncertainty): right effort does not guarantee immediate result.
Application: Persist after setbacks; treat failure as data for revising strategy.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Narrative (Ramayana episode within Purana-style narration)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vanara squads travel along three routes—east, west, and north—returning without finding Janaki; Rama and Sugriva receive the grim news.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych layout: three panels showing vanaras moving through forests/mountains toward east/west/north; final panel with Rama and Sugriva listening to the report; stylized trees and patterned skies.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents: central Rama with halo, Sugriva beside; vanara messengers kneeling with folded hands indicating failure; background vignettes of three directional journeys.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, narrative sequencing: labeled directions (Purva/Pashchima/Uttara) above small scenes of travel; concluding scene of report to Rama-Sugriva; fine detailing of foliage and attire.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with detailed terrain: three caravans of vanaras on separate paths; courtly audience scene where they report to Rama and Sugriva; subtle expressions of concern."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ityuktā = इति + उक्ताः; sasugrīvam = स + सुग्रीवम् (avyayībhāva ‘with Sugrīva’); apaśyantas = अपश्यन्तः (visarga sandhi before tu).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 8.9; Agni Purana 8.11; Agni Purana 8.12
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; it records a strategic reconnaissance/search deployment—vānaras moving along directional routes (east, west, north) in the mission to locate Jānakī.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana also preserves itihāsa-style narrative instruction; this verse exemplifies its inclusion of Ramayana episodes that convey dharma, leadership, and coordinated action.
It highlights sevā (service) and niṣṭhā (steadfast effort) in a righteous cause—acting under proper guidance for the protection and restoration of dharma, even when immediate success (finding Sītā) is not attained.