Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 1
Chapter 9 — श्रीरामावतारकथनम् (Śrī Rāmāvatāra-kathanam) | Hanumān’s Ocean-Crossing, Sītā-Darśana, and the Setu Plan
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये रामायाणे किष्किन्धाकाण्डवर्णनं नाम अष्टमो ऽध्यायः अथ नवमो ऽध्यायः श्रीरामावतारकथनं नारद उवाच सम्पातिवचनं श्रुत्वा हनुमानङ्गदादयः अब्धिं दृष्ट्वाब्रुवंस्ते ऽब्धिं लङ्घयेत् को नु जीवयेत्
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye rāmāyāṇe kiṣkindhākāṇḍavarṇanaṃ nāma aṣṭamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha navamo 'dhyāyaḥ śrīrāmāvatārakathanaṃ nārada uvāca sampātivacanaṃ śrutvā hanumānaṅgadādayaḥ abdhiṃ dṛṣṭvābruvaṃste 'bdhiṃ laṅghayet ko nu jīvayet
Kaya nito, sa Agni Purāṇa—sa bahaging Rāmāyaṇa—natapos ang ikawalong kabanata na tinatawag na “Paglalarawan ng Kiṣkindhā Kāṇḍa.” Ngayon ay nagsisimula ang ikasiyam na kabanata, “Salaysay ng Pagbaba (Avatāra) ni Śrī Rāma.” Sinabi ni Nārada: Nang marinig ang mga salita ni Sampāti, sina Hanumān, Aṅgada, at ang iba pa, pagkakita sa dagat, ay nagsabi: “Sino ang makalalaktaw sa dagat na ito at manatiling buhay?”
Nārada (narrator within the Agni Purāṇa’s Rāmāyaṇa section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Textual navigation (chapter colophon) plus narrative pivot: frames the problem of crossing the ocean and sets up selection of the capable agent (Hanumān).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Chapter transition and the ocean-crossing question (who can leap and live?)","lookup_keywords":["adhyaya","Kishkindha-kanda","Sampati","abdhi-langhana","Hanuman"],"quick_summary":"Marks the close of the Kiṣkindhā description and opens the next chapter; after hearing Sampāti, the vānaras confront the ocean and ask who can cross it and survive."}
Alamkara Type: Prashna (rhetorical question)
Concept: In dharmic missions, recognize constraints honestly and seek the uniquely capable without despair.
Application: When facing seemingly impossible tasks, articulate the problem clearly to catalyze the emergence of the right leader/solution.
Khanda Section: Avataras & Itihasa-Katha (Ramayana narrative within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A council of vānaras—Hanumān, Aṅgada, others—standing before the roaring ocean, gesturing in doubt and debate; the chapter transition feel like a new scene opening.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, semicircle council of vānaras with expressive eyes, foaming ocean as a bold horizontal band, dramatic sky, one figure (Hanumān) subtly centered, traditional ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed ocean highlights, vānaras with rich adornment, central Hanumān with faint aureole, inscription-like paneling to suggest chapter colophon, grand devotional-epic mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear grouping and facial expressions showing deliberation, ocean rendered with gentle gradations, compositional emphasis on the question moment, refined detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, animated group discussion with varied poses, detailed shoreline rocks and waves, distant horizon, narrative framing like an illustrated manuscript folio"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति; 'अध्यायः = अध्यायः; हनुमानङ्गदादयः = हनुमान् + अङ्गदादयः; दृष्ट्वाब्रुवन् = दृष्ट्वा + अब्रुवन्; ते 'ब्धिम् = ते + अब्धिम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ramayana section: immediately following—Hanumān’s leap (9.2)
FAQs
This verse primarily functions as Itihāsa-kathā (epic narration), setting the narrative problem—crossing the ocean to reach Laṅkā—rather than teaching a specific ritual or technical vidyā.
By embedding a condensed Rāmāyaṇa narrative inside a Purāṇic compendium, the Agni Purāṇa preserves dharma-oriented history, exemplars of devotion and courage, and key mythic geography—showing how it integrates multiple genres (kathā, theology, ethics) into one encyclopedic text.
The passage highlights human limitation before an immense obstacle, implicitly preparing for the emergence of divine grace and heroic service to Rāma—an archetype of karma-yoga and bhakti where sincere effort becomes effective through devotion and right purpose.