Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 9

Chapter 7 — रामायणवर्णनं (Description of the Rāmāyaṇa): Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara’s Defeat, and Sītā-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

रामं रामो ऽपि युयुधे शरैर् विव्याध राक्षसान् हस्त्यश्वरथपादातं बलं निन्ये यमक्षयं

Transliteration

rāmaṃ rāmo 'pi yuyudhe śarair vivyādha rākṣasān hastyaśvarathapādātaṃ balaṃ ninye yamakṣayaṃ

Translation

Nakipaglaban si Rama; sa pamamagitan ng mga palaso ay tinusok niya ang mga rākṣasa, at itinaboy ang hukbo nilang may elepante, kabayo, karwahe, at kawal na lakad patungo sa tahanan ni Yama, ang daigdig ng kamatayan.

Word by Word

• रामम्: Rāma (as object/target)
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; ‘also/even’

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrument

• विव्याध: pierced
• विव्याध: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु) उपसर्ग-वि
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• राक्षसान्: rākṣasas
• राक्षसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• हस्त्यश्वरथपादातम्: consisting of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers
• हस्त्यश्वरथपादातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्ति + अश्व + रथ + पादात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative): ‘elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘balam’

• बलम्: army/force
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निन्ये: led/took
• निन्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• यमक्षयम्: to Yama’s abode (death)
• यमक्षयम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (genitive/locative sense): यमस्य क्षयः/क्षयम् = ‘abode/realm of Yama (death)’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: रामोऽपि = रामः + अपि; शरैर् = शरैः (visarga before consonant); यमक्षयं = यम + क्षयम्.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Rakshasas
• Yama

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

Primarily martial imagery: the verse highlights archery (śara) as the decisive means by which a hero routs and destroys a fourfold army (elephants, horses, chariots, infantry), aligning with Dhanurveda-style battlefield description rather than ritual instruction.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside rituals and doctrines, the Agni Purana also preserves itihasa-style narratives and practical cultural knowledge—here, classical categories of armies and warfare vocabulary—showing its wide thematic range.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

It frames the triumph of dharmic heroism: the unrighteous aggressors (rākṣasas) meet death (Yama’s realm), implying that adharma culminates in ruin while righteous valor is upheld.