Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 37
Description of the Royal Dynasties (राजवंशवर्णनम्) — Chapter Colophon and Transition
धृतरष्ट्रञ्च पाण्डुञ्च विदुरञ्चाप्यजीजनत् पाण्डोर्युधिष्ठिरः कुन्त्यां भीमश् चैवार्जुनस्त्रयः
dhṛtaraṣṭrañca pāṇḍuñca vidurañcāpyajījanat pāṇḍoryudhiṣṭhiraḥ kuntyāṃ bhīmaś caivārjunastrayaḥ
พระองค์ทรงให้กำเนิดธฤตราษฏระ ปาณฑุ และวิดุระด้วย และจากปาณฑุโดยกุนตี ประสูติยุธิษฐิระ ภีมะ และอรชุน—ทั้งสามพระองค์
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic-epic genealogies to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Genealogical indexing of the Mahābhārata protagonists; clarifies parentage for ritual remembrance, narrative study, and dharma discussions around legitimacy and fraternal roles (including Vidura).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vyāsa’s Sons and Pāṇḍu’s Three Sons by Kuntī","lookup_keywords":["Dhṛtarāṣṭra","Pāṇḍu","Vidura","Kuntī","Yudhiṣṭhira"],"quick_summary":"Lists Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura as born through Vyāsa’s begetting, then enumerates Kuntī’s sons of Pāṇḍu: Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, and Arjuna. Serves as a compact lineage key for epic characters."}
Concept: Interplay of birth, duty, and social role: kingship succession (Dhṛtarāṣṭra/Pāṇḍu) and the dharmic counselor role (Vidura).
Application: Using lineage to interpret adhikāra (eligibility) and svadharma in epic ethics—why certain figures rule, counsel, or renounce.
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Vamsha–Anukramanika (Genealogies and epic lineages)
Primary Rasa: itihasa
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A structured family-tree scene: Vyāsa as sage at center; three sons—Dhṛtarāṣṭra (blind), Pāṇḍu (pale/ascetic-leaning), Vidura (ministerial bearing); then Kuntī with three princes Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Arjuna.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panel composition with Vyāsa seated, Dhṛtarāṣṭra shown with closed/whitened eyes, Pāṇḍu and Vidura beside him, Kuntī with three youthful princes, bold outlines and ornamental foliage borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Vyāsa with golden halo, royal sons adorned, Dhṛtarāṣṭra indicated as blind with stylized eyes, Kuntī and three princes in rich attire, heavy gold embossing on crowns and jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean genealogical layout with captions, subtle shading, court interior, Kuntī presenting the three sons, emphasis on clarity and didactic arrangement.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court-hall scene, Vyāsa as ascetic visitor, three princes seated, Kuntī behind a screen, delicate architectural details and naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धृतरष्ट्रञ्च = धृतराष्ट्रम् + च; पाण्डुञ्च = पाण्डुम् + च; विदुरञ्चापि = विदुरम् + च + अपि; पाण्डोर्युधिष्ठिरः = पाण्डोः + युधिष्ठिरः; चैव = च + एव; अर्जुनस्त्रयः = अर्जुनः + त्रयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 277.36 (Vyāsa as begetter); Agni Purana 277.38-40 (continuation: Mādrī’s sons, Abhimanyu/Parikṣit, Draupadī’s sons, Ghaṭotkaca)
FAQs
No ritual technique is taught here; the verse transmits itihāsa-vamśa knowledge—an authoritative lineage summary used for dharma and historical contextualization.
By cataloging Mahābhārata-era dynastic relations (Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Pāṇḍu–Vidura and Pāṇḍu’s sons), it functions like a reference index—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark encyclopedic features.
Remembering and accurately transmitting sacred lineages (vamśa-smaraṇa) supports dharma by preserving the moral-historical framework in which exemplary conduct and its karmic outcomes are understood.