Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 9
Śrīrāmāvatāra-varṇanam
Description of the Incarnation of Śrī Rāma
सिद्धाश्रमनिवासी च विश्वामित्रादिभिः सह गतः क्रतुं मैथिलस्य द्रष्टुञ्चापं सहानुजः
siddhāśramanivāsī ca viśvāmitrādibhiḥ saha gataḥ kratuṃ maithilasya draṣṭuñcāpaṃ sahānujaḥ
Nanirahan sa Siddhāśrama, si Rāma, kasama si Viśvāmitra at iba pa, at kasama rin ang nakababatang kapatid, ay nagtungo upang masaksihan ang banal na paghahandog (yajña) ng hari ng Mithilā at upang makita ang busog.
Lord Agni (narrating puranic-itihasa material to Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Modeling the dharmic transition from āśrama-discipline to public duty: accompanying a guru, attending yajña, and approaching svayaṃvara/royal rites with restraint and purpose.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Siddhāśrama to Mithilā: Rāma accompanies Viśvāmitra to Janaka’s yajña and the bow","lookup_keywords":["Siddhāśrama","Viśvāmitra","Mithilā","Janaka-yajña","Śiva-dhanus"],"quick_summary":"Rāma, living at Siddhāśrama under Viśvāmitra’s guidance, proceeds with Lakṣmaṇa to Mithilā to witness Janaka’s sacrificial rite and the famed bow—setting the stage for the bow-test and marriage alliance."}
Alamkara Type: Anvaya (straight narrative syntax) with itihāsa-style saṅkṣepa
Weapon Type: Bow (dhanus)
Concept: Guru-anugamana and yajña-darśana as kṣatriya-saṃskāra: learning to move from private discipline to public dharmic action.
Application: Treat mentors’ directives as dharma; approach public ceremonies with humility, preparedness, and adherence to protocol.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Ramayana-Charita (Narrative of Rama within Agni Purana’s encyclopedic puranic retellings)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha/Āśrama; Kingdom/Capital
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa depart from Siddhāśrama with sage Viśvāmitra and attendants, traveling toward Mithilā where a grand yajña pavilion and the famed bow are anticipated.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Viśvāmitra leading youthful Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa from a forest āśrama with sacred fire altar; distant Mithilā yajña-maṇḍapa hinted with banana stems, lamps, and ritual vessels; flat bold colors, ornate borders, serene yet heroic faces.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central Viśvāmitra with halo, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa beside him holding bows; gilded yajña-kuṇḍa and kalashas in background; rich reds/greens, heavy gold leaf highlights on ornaments and ritual implements.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional narrative panel—āśrama on left, procession in middle, Mithilā yajña pavilion on right; delicate lines, soft shading, labeled ritual objects (vedi, kuṇḍa, āhavanīya fire).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed travel scene with forest path, sages and princes in procession; architectural rendering of Mithilā in the distance; fine textiles, naturalistic trees, and a small vignette of the bow displayed near the yajña hall."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्रष्टुञ्चापम् = द्रष्टुम् + च + आपम्/चापम् (here: द्रष्टुम् च चापम्). सहानुजः = सह + अनुजः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 5.11 (bow strung and broken); Agni Purana 5.12–5.13 (marriages and alliances)
FAQs
It references a kratu (formal Vedic-style sacrifice) hosted by the Maithila king, indicating the ritual setting in which royal yajña patronage and sacred witnessing (darśana) occur.
By embedding Itihasa (Ramayana-linked) narrative inside a Purana, it connects royal ritual culture (kratu), sacred geography (Siddhashrama, Mithila), and martial symbolism (the famed bow) within one compendium.
The verse frames dharmic travel with sages and participation in yajña contexts as meritorious—associating proximity to sacred rites and saintly company with purification and auspicious destiny.