Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 24
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
सह रामेण मालाभृन् मालाकारे वरन्ददौ दत्तानुलेपनां कुब्जाम् ऋजुं चक्रे ऽहनद् गजं
saha rāmeṇa mālābhṛn mālākāre varandadau dattānulepanāṃ kubjām ṛjuṃ cakre 'hanad gajaṃ
พร้อมกับพระราม ผู้ถือพวงมาลัยได้ประทานพรแก่ช่างทำพวงมาลัย อีกทั้งทรงทำกุพชา ผู้ถวายเครื่องลูบไล้ ให้ตรงงาม และทรงสังหารช้างหนึ่งเชือก
Lord Agni (narrating to Vashistha in the Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Demonstrates compassionate transformation (healing/straightening Kubjā) alongside protective strength (slaying the elephant); also models rewarding devotion (boons to garland-maker).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Mālākāra-anugraha; Kubjā-vikāra-nivṛtti; Kuvalayāpīḍa-gaja-vadha","lookup_keywords":["mālākāra","Kubjā","anulepana","gaja-vadha","Kuvalayāpīḍa"],"quick_summary":"Kṛṣṇa rewards the garland-maker, heals Kubjā’s deformity after receiving unguent, and kills Kaṁsa’s elephant—combining grace, restoration, and heroic protection."}
Weapon Type: Unarmed/strength combat (gaja-vadha)
Concept: Bhakti receives grace (anugraha) and adharma’s obstacles are removed; compassion and strength are complementary virtues.
Application: Reward sincere service; combine firmness against harm with kindness toward the vulnerable; address both social threats and individual suffering.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Ramayana-Samgraha (Rama-katha / Narrative Episode)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: City
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma receive garlands and bless the garland-maker; Kubjā offers fragrant unguent and is straightened into a beautiful form; then Kṛṣṇa confronts and kills a massive elephant at the city gate.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych composition: left—garland-maker offering malas to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; center—Kubjā with perfume pot, Kṛṣṇa straightening her posture; right—dramatic elephant combat at the gate, bold lines, saturated colors, expressive eyes.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Kṛṣṇa with gold halo receiving garlands, Kubjā transformed beside him holding an unguent vessel, elephant scene as secondary vignette with gold accents on ornaments and gate architecture, rich jewel tones and gold leaf.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, sequential narrative with clear spacing: garland exchange, Kubjā’s correction with delicate gesture, elephant fight rendered with anatomical detail, refined linework and soft shading suitable for instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling Mathurā street with artisans, Kubjā’s transformation shown with courtly realism, elephant battle near ornate city gate, detailed textiles, architecture, and crowd reactions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mālābhṛn = mālā-bhṛt (final -t → -n before voiced consonant in some recensions); cakre 'hanad = cakre ahanat (’ = avagraha after a); dattānulepanāṃ = datta-anulepanām.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Krishna-Charita: Mathurā entry and Kaṁsa confrontation sequence (adjacent narrative)
FAQs
No specialized ritual/technical vidyā is taught here; the verse functions as an Itihāsa-style narrative, highlighting Rama’s boon-giving and transformative grace, and his heroic act of slaying an elephant.
The Agni Purana compiles diverse domains; here it preserves an episode-like digest of Rama-kathā (Itihāsa material) alongside other chapters on ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics—showing its catalog-like, multi-genre structure.
The verse underscores the purifying power of devotion and service (offering unguent, serving/assisting), implying that sincere offerings and righteous association with the divine lead to upliftment, blessing, and removal of defects.