Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 9
Śrīrāmāvatāra-varṇana
Description of the Incarnation of Sri Rama
भरतोगात्सशत्रुघ्नो राघवं पूजयन् स्थितः रामो दुष्टान्निहत्याजौ शिष्टान् सम्पाल्य मानवः
bharatogātsaśatrughno rāghavaṃ pūjayan sthitaḥ rāmo duṣṭānnihatyājau śiṣṭān sampālya mānavaḥ
ภรตเสด็จออกไปพร้อมศัตรุฆนะ ยืนมั่นคงด้วยการบูชาราฆวะ (พระราม) พระรามผู้ทรงธรรม ครั้นปราบคนชั่วในสนามรบแล้ว ก็ทรงอภิบาลผู้มีศีลและผู้ประพฤติดี.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana to Vasiṣṭha, in the standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ethical kingship model: honoring rightful authority, punishing the wicked in battle, and protecting the disciplined/virtuous; applicable to leadership ethics and rajadharma discussions.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rāma’s protection of the śiṣṭa and destruction of the duṣṭa; Bharata–Śatrughna’s loyal conduct","lookup_keywords":["Bharata","Śatrughna","Rāghava","duṣṭa-nigraha","śiṣṭa-pālana"],"quick_summary":"The verse compresses rajadharma into narrative: loyal support to the righteous ruler, decisive removal of harmful forces, and sustained protection of the well-conducted."}
Alamkara Type: Antithesis (duṣṭa vs śiṣṭa)
Weapon Type: Bow (implied for Rāma)
Concept: Duṣṭa-nigraha and śiṣṭa-pālana as the ruler’s moral mandate; loyalty to righteous leadership.
Application: Leadership principle: combine firmness against harm with guardianship of social order; cultivate disciplined allegiance within institutions.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Avataras (Ramayana narrative in Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bharata and Śatrughna stand respectfully honoring Rāma; Rāma is depicted as a righteous warrior-king who defeats wicked foes and shelters disciplined citizens/sages.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style; Rāma with bow, calm yet powerful stance; Bharata and Śatrughna with folded hands; defeated dark-toned adversaries at the margins; sages and citizens under Rāma’s protection, bold outlines and ornamental crowns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold work; central Rāma with halo and bow, Bharata and Śatrughna in reverent posture; symbolic wicked figures subdued; gold-embossed ornaments and arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting; narrative panel showing two scenes: homage to Rāma and battlefield victory; refined faces, soft palette, emphasis on dharmic composure rather than gore","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; courtly homage scene transitioning to a compact battle vignette; detailed textiles, horses, and disciplined ranks; Rāma as the focal hero"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bharatogāt → bharataḥ + agāt; saśatrughnaḥ → saḥ + śatrughnaḥ; duṣṭānnihatya → duṣṭān + nihatya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ramayana-saṅgraha passages (contextual); Agni Purana rajadharma sections (conceptual parallel)
FAQs
This verse primarily imparts rāja-nīti/rajadharma: the king honors the righteous, destroys disruptive wicked forces in battle when necessary, and safeguards the śiṣṭas (disciplined, law-abiding people).
By embedding governance-ethics (rajadharma) within Itihasa narrative (Rama-katha), the Agni Purana integrates history-like storytelling with practical statecraft ideals—one of its hallmark encyclopedic methods.
The verse frames righteous protection as dharmic merit: eliminating adharma (the wicked) and preserving dharma (the śiṣṭas) aligns the ruler with cosmic order, generating पुण्य (merit) and social purification.