Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 16
Chapter 10 — श्रीरामावतारवर्णनम्
Description of the Incarnation-Deeds of Śrī Rāma
महोदरो महापार्श्वो मत्त उन्मत्तराक्षसः प्रघसो भासकर्णश् च विरूपाक्षश् च संयुगे
mahodaro mahāpārśvo matta unmattarākṣasaḥ praghaso bhāsakarṇaś ca virūpākṣaś ca saṃyuge
ในสมรภูมินั้นมี มโหทร มหาปารศวะ มัตตะ อุนมัตตรากษส ปรฆสะ ภาสกรรณะ และวิรูปากษะร่วมรบ
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic-Rāmāyaṇa battle roster to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Serves as a roster of enemy champions for situational awareness; supports narrative mapping of successive opponents in campaign planning.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Roster of Rākṣasa Warriors in the Laṅkā Battle","lookup_keywords":["Mahodara","Mahāpārśva","Praghasa","Bhāsakarṇa","Virūpākṣa"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates prominent rākṣasa fighters present in the battle, functioning as a catalog of antagonists and a narrative index for subsequent combats."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā (name-garland listing)
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Ramayana Narrative (Rama–Ravana Yuddha; Rakshasa-vadha-prasanga)
Primary Rasa: Vīra
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lineup/advance of rākṣasa champions—Mahodara, Mahāpārśva, Matta, Unmattarākṣasa, Praghasa, Bhāsakarṇa, Virūpākṣa—arrayed for battle in Laṅkā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, procession of seven rākṣasa warriors with distinct crowns, weapons, and facial traits, arranged in a frieze-like battle register, bold outlines, saturated colors, stylized musculature","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, formal group portrait of rākṣasa champions with gold-leaf ornamentation, each figure labeled in small script, rich textile patterns, Laṅkā palace backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, catalog-style panel with neatly spaced warriors, subtle shading, clear differentiation of physiques and expressions, minimal background, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed assembly of commanders in a battlefield council/advance, individualized faces and armor, layered composition with banners and elephants/horses hinted, fine brushwork"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भासकर्णश् च → भासकर्णः + च; विरूपाक्षश् च → विरूपाक्षः + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Itihāsa-khaṇḍa: subsequent individual combats with named rākṣasas (following verses/sections in the same yuddha-prasaṅga)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as a battle roster, enumerating named rākṣasa combatants present in the saṃyuga (combat).
By preserving structured catalogues—here, a list of specific warriors—Agni Purāṇa compiles narrative data (names, line-ups, and battle context) alongside its many other subjects, reflecting its encyclopedic method of organizing knowledge.
The verse primarily supports dharma-narrative memory: recalling the forces aligned in the righteous war context reinforces the Purāṇic moral frame of conflict (dharma vs. adharma), though it does not prescribe a direct rite or expiation.