Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 14
Śrīrāmāvatāra-kathana (Account of the Rāma Incarnation) — Kiṣkindhā Alliance and the Search for Sītā
भ्रातासौ मे जटायुर्वै मयोड्डीनो ऽर्कमण्डलम् अर्कतापाद्रक्षितो ऽगात् दग्धपक्षो ऽहमब्भ्रगः
bhrātāsau me jaṭāyurvai mayoḍḍīno 'rkamaṇḍalam arkatāpādrakṣito 'gāt dagdhapakṣo 'hamabbhragaḥ
“Si Jatāyu ay tunay na aking kapatid. Ako—ang paboreal—ay lumipad paitaas hanggang sa bilog ng araw; sa pag-iingat laban sa nakapapasong init ng araw, ako’y nakabalik—bagaman napaso ang aking mga pakpak, ako’y naging manlalakbay sa mga ulap.”
Lord Agni (narrating the Purana’s Itihasa-katha to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Narrative exemplum: illustrates kinship ties among beings and the motif of endurance/protection while undertaking perilous ascent; useful for kathā-recitation and moral instruction.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Mayūra’s solar ascent and scorched wings (Sampāti/Jatāyu kinship motif)","lookup_keywords":["Jatayu","Sampati","mayura","arkamandala","dagdhapaksha"],"quick_summary":"The speaker identifies Jatāyu as a brother and recounts a perilous flight toward the sun, returning protected yet with scorched wings—setting up the Ramayana episode of impaired flight and later assistance."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Limits of embodied power before tejas; protection enables return but leaves karmic/physical marks.
Application: Use as a teaching story on humility and perseverance: even protected endeavors can leave consequences; act with discernment.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Narrative (Ramayana episode within Purana-katha)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Cosmic
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A peacock-like bird soaring toward the blazing sun-disc, haloed by heat, then descending with singed wings, set against high sky and clouds; a second bird (Jatāyu) implied as kin.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, ornate sun-disc with concentric flames, a stylized peacock-bird in flight with partially burnt wing-feathers, dramatic sky bands, traditional floral borders, sacred cosmic ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central gold-leaf sun mandala with embossed radiance, jewel-toned sky, peacock-bird with singed wings rendered in rich enamel colors, decorative aureoles and gold highlights, devotional-cosmic composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework and soft shading, detailed feather textures showing scorching at tips, luminous sun orb, subtle cloud layers, instructional clarity in the bird’s posture and wing damage","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine naturalistic bird anatomy, intense sun disc with gilded accents, gradated sky wash, small cloud wisps, narrative caption feel, emphasis on motion and singed feathers"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मयोḍ्डीनो = मया + उड्डीनः; 'र्कमण्डलम् = अर्कमण्डलम्; 'गात् = अगात्; दग्धपक्षो 'हमब्भ्रगः = दग्धपक्षः + अहम् + अभ्रगः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ramayana section: Sampāti episode leading to Laṅkā search (Kiṣkindhā/Sundara narrative flow)
FAQs
No ritual/technical vidyā is prescribed here; the verse functions as an itihāsa-style narrative statement identifying Jatāyu and describing a mythic flight to the sun and protection from its heat.
It shows the Agni Purana’s compendious method: alongside rituals and sciences, it preserves itihāsa-kathā (epic narrative) material—linking well-known Ramayana figures (like Jatāyu) with brief mythic motifs and identifications.
Rather than an instruction, it conveys a symbolic takeaway: divine protection can preserve one even amid intense, purifying heat (arka-tāpa), while still leaving marks of ordeal (scorched wings)—a common Puranic theme of trial and safeguarding.