Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 10
Śrīrāmāvatāra-kathana (Account of the Rāma Incarnation) — Kiṣkindhā Alliance and the Search for Sītā
इत्युक्ता वानराः पूर्व- पश्चिमोत्तरमार्गगाः जग्मू रामं ससुग्रीवम् अपश्यन्तस् तु जानकीम्
ityuktā vānarāḥ pūrva- paścimottaramārgagāḥ jagmū rāmaṃ sasugrīvam apaśyantas tu jānakīm
یوں حکم پا کر وانر مشرق، مغرب اور شمال کے راستوں پر روانہ ہوئے؛ وہ سُگریو سمیت رام کے پاس گئے، مگر جانکی کو نہ دیکھ سکے۔
Agni (narrating puranic-itihasa content to Vasiṣṭha, in the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Coordinated field deployment and reporting: teams move by assigned routes; outcome reporting includes failure to locate the target.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vanara teams depart by east–west–north routes; Janaki not found","lookup_keywords":["vanara routes","east west north","search mission","failure report","Janaki not found"],"quick_summary":"Even with organized deployment by directions, reconnaissance may fail; the narrative records the operational outcome to drive the next decision."}
Concept: Purushakara with anishchaya (human effort amid uncertainty): right effort does not guarantee immediate result.
Application: Persist after setbacks; treat failure as data for revising strategy.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Narrative (Ramayana episode within Purana-style narration)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vanara squads travel along three routes—east, west, and north—returning without finding Janaki; Rama and Sugriva receive the grim news.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych layout: three panels showing vanaras moving through forests/mountains toward east/west/north; final panel with Rama and Sugriva listening to the report; stylized trees and patterned skies.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents: central Rama with halo, Sugriva beside; vanara messengers kneeling with folded hands indicating failure; background vignettes of three directional journeys.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, narrative sequencing: labeled directions (Purva/Pashchima/Uttara) above small scenes of travel; concluding scene of report to Rama-Sugriva; fine detailing of foliage and attire.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with detailed terrain: three caravans of vanaras on separate paths; courtly audience scene where they report to Rama and Sugriva; subtle expressions of concern."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ityuktā = इति + उक्ताः; sasugrīvam = स + सुग्रीवम् (avyayībhāva ‘with Sugrīva’); apaśyantas = अपश्यन्तः (visarga sandhi before tu).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 8.9; Agni Purana 8.11; Agni Purana 8.12
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; it records a strategic reconnaissance/search deployment—vānaras moving along directional routes (east, west, north) in the mission to locate Jānakī.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana also preserves itihāsa-style narrative instruction; this verse exemplifies its inclusion of Ramayana episodes that convey dharma, leadership, and coordinated action.
It highlights sevā (service) and niṣṭhā (steadfast effort) in a righteous cause—acting under proper guidance for the protection and restoration of dharma, even when immediate success (finding Sītā) is not attained.