Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 39
Chapter 12 — श्रीहरिवंशवर्णनं (Śrī-Harivaṃśa-varṇana) | The Description of the Sacred Harivaṃśa
कामस्त्वं शम्भुनानङ्गः कृतोहं शम्बरेण च हृता न तस्य पत्नी त्वं मायाज्ञः शम्बरं जहि
kāmastvaṃ śambhunānaṅgaḥ kṛtohaṃ śambareṇa ca hṛtā na tasya patnī tvaṃ māyājñaḥ śambaraṃ jahi
เจ้าคือกามะ—ศัมภูได้ทำให้เจ้าเป็นอนังคะ (ไร้กาย) เราก็ถูกศัมพรลักพาไปเช่นกัน เจ้าไม่ใช่ภรรยาของเขา; โอ้ผู้รู้ศิลป์แห่งมายา จงสังหารศัมพร
Rati (Kāma’s consort), addressing Kāma
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Identifies the hero as Kāma reborn/manifest (Ananga) and gives a mission: use māyā-knowledge to defeat Śambara—useful for narrating dharma-restoration through divine purpose.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kāma as Ananga and the Command to Slay Śambara","lookup_keywords":["Kama Ananga","Shambhu burns Kama","Shambara slaying","Mayavati Rati","maya-jnana"],"quick_summary":"Māyāvatī reveals identity: ‘You are Kāma made bodiless by Śambhu.’ She urges him—skilled in māyā—to kill Śambara and restore rightful order."}
Alamkara Type: Ākhyāna-vākya (direct speech)
Concept: Rightful identity and duty override coercive claims; adharma (abduction/usurpation) must be ended by righteous action.
Application: Frame ethical response to injustice: discern truth, reject illegitimate bonds, and act decisively to remove the oppressor.
Khanda Section: Purana-Katha (Mythic Narrative: Deva–Asura conflicts and divine missions)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Māyāvatī (Rati) addresses the revealed Kāma/Pradyumna, recounting Śiva’s burning of Kāma and urging him to slay the asura Śambara; tension before heroic action.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Māyāvatī pointing in admonition, youthful hero listening with resolve, faint symbolic Śiva with flame in background vignette, Śambara depicted as looming asura, bold outlines and traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central duo with gold halos, speech-gesture emphasized, background medallion showing Śiva’s fiery act, Śambara as dark antagonist at edge, heavy ornamentation and gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, narrative clarity: Māyāvatī instructing, hero poised to depart, inset panel of Śiva burning Kāma, clean lines and subdued colors for didactic storytelling.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate counsel scene in palace chamber, expressive faces, detailed textiles; marginal vignette of Śiva’s flame episode; distant depiction of Śambara’s fortress."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कामस्त्वं = कामः + त्वम्; शम्भुनानङ्गः = शम्भुना + अनङ्गः; कृतोहं = कृतः + अहम्; मायाज्ञः = माया + ज्ञः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 12.37–12.38 (setup: fish transfer and recognition); Agni Purana narrative blocks on asura-vadha motifs (general)
FAQs
It highlights māyā-jñāna—skill in recognizing and countering illusion—framed as practical discernment needed to overcome demonic deception.
Alongside ritual and technical sections elsewhere, this narrative preserves theological-historical lore (itihāsa-style purāṇic kathā) explaining divine roles (Kāma as Ananga) and ethical action against adharma (Śambara).
The instruction to destroy the adharmic oppressor affirms dharma: resisting coercion and deception is portrayed as righteous action that restores cosmic order.