Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 8
Śrīrāmāvatāra-varṇana
Description of the Incarnation of Sri Rama
शैलूषं दुष्टगन्धर्वं सिन्धुतीरनिवासिनम् तक्षञ्च पुष्करं पुत्रं स्थापयित्वाथ देशयोः
śailūṣaṃ duṣṭagandharvaṃ sindhutīranivāsinam takṣañca puṣkaraṃ putraṃ sthāpayitvātha deśayoḥ
سِندھو کے کنارے رہنے والے بدکار گندھرو شَیلُوش کو، اور تَکش و پُشکر نامی بیٹوں کو اُن کے اپنے اپنے علاقوں میں مقرر کر کے وہ آگے بڑھا۔
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Model for delegating frontier/region governance by installing trusted (or at least designated) rulers/lineages in specific territories; useful for reading Purāṇic political geography and genealogy.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Installation of Śailūṣa, Takṣa, and Puṣkara in their regions (Sindhu-bank episode)","lookup_keywords":["Śailūṣa","Gandharva","Sindhu-tīra","Takṣa","Puṣkara"],"quick_summary":"The verse records a political-genealogical act: appointing/establishing figures in distinct regions, anchoring later territorial identities and lineages to named founders."}
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Purana (Genealogies and Royal Installations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal figure formally installs Śailūṣa (a Gandharva) near the Sindhu riverbank and establishes Takṣa and Puṣkara as sons/rulers in their respective regions; attendants, banners, and river landscape indicate frontier governance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, ornate jewelry; a coronation/installation scene on the banks of the Sindhu river, Gandharva figure with celestial ornaments, royal priest performing abhiṣeka, palm trees and river waves stylized, symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold leaf highlights; enthronement/installation with haloed royal patron, richly decorated throne, riverbank motif, Takṣa and Puṣkara presented as princes, heavy ornamentation and temple-like arch framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework and soft shading; courtly installation ceremony with labeled figures Śailūṣa, Takṣa, Puṣkara; emphasis on protocol—garlands, water-pot, royal seal, river in background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detail; riverside durbar scene with Indus flowing, tents and standards, a celestial-looking Gandharva being granted a territory, two young princes introduced; naturalistic landscape and court costumes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: takṣañca → takṣam + ca; sthāpayitvātha → sthāpayitvā + atha.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Itihasa–Purana genealogical sequences around ch. 11 (contextual)
FAQs
This verse conveys administrative-royal practice: the appointment/installation (sthāpana) of persons as regional rulers or founders in specified lands.
Alongside ritual and doctrine, the Agni Purana preserves Itihāsa-style material—names, lineages, and the founding/assignment of territories—functioning as a cultural and political record.
By depicting orderly establishment of rulers and regions, the verse reflects the Purāṇic ideal of dharmic governance—stability of realms is treated as a support for dharma, sacrifice, and social well-being.