Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 31
Chapter 9 — श्रीरामावतारकथनम् (Śrī Rāmāvatāra-kathanam) | Hanumān’s Ocean-Crossing, Sītā-Darśana, and the Setu Plan
अहं त्वया कृतः पूर्वं रामो ऽपि नलसेतुना कृतेन तरुशैलाद्यैर् गतः पारं महोदधेः वानरैः स सुवेलस्थः सह लङ्कां ददर्श वै
ahaṃ tvayā kṛtaḥ pūrvaṃ rāmo 'pi nalasetunā kṛtena taruśailādyair gataḥ pāraṃ mahodadheḥ vānaraiḥ sa suvelasthaḥ saha laṅkāṃ dadarśa vai
میں پہلے تمہارے ہی ذریعے بنایا گیا تھا؛ اور رام بھی نل کے بنائے ہوئے پُل سے—جو درختوں، پہاڑوں وغیرہ سے تیار تھا—عظیم سمندر کے پار پہنچا۔ وہ بندروں کے ساتھ سوویل پر ٹھہر کر لنکا کو دیکھنے لگا۔
Lord Agni (narrating puranic-itihasa material in the Agni Purana’s discourse tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Highlights large-scale construction and coordinated labor (trees, rocks) enabling strategic movement; also serves as a memory-anchor (smaraṇa) for righteous enterprise.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Nala’s Bridge: Materials, Crossing, and Rama’s First Sight of Lanka from Suvela","lookup_keywords":["Nala setu","trees and mountains","Vanara army","Suvela","Lanka sight"],"quick_summary":"The bridge built with timber and rocks enables Rāma and the Vānaras to cross the ocean; from Suvela they behold Laṅkā—mythic logistics culminating in strategic reconnaissance."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa (phonetic texture in compounds)
Concept: Collective effort under righteous leadership turns the impossible into the traversable; vision (darśana) follows disciplined action.
Application: For large goals: organize resources, assign roles, and secure vantage/assessment points before decisive action.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Smarana (Ramayana episode within Purana narration)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast bridge of trees and rocks spans the ocean; the Vanara host crosses; Rama stands on Suvela mountain looking toward the golden city of Lanka.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: long rhythmic bridge across stylized waves, vanaras carrying boulders, Rama and Lakshmana at forefront; Suvela as layered green hill; Lanka in distant ornate silhouette; bold contours and patterned sea.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: iconic Rama on Suvela with gold halo, bridge rendered as decorative band across the sea; vanaras in procession; Lanka shown with gilded towers; heavy gold work emphasizing the city and divine figures.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: panoramic instructional scene—bridge construction steps (carrying, placing, binding), then crossing; Rama’s lookout posture on Suvela; fine linework and narrative sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: expansive landscape with detailed bridge engineering, troops in orderly movement, distant fortified Lanka; nuanced water shading, atmospheric depth, and lively monkey figures."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"uplifting","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rāmo 'pi → rāmaḥ api; taruśailādyair → taru-śaila-ādyaiḥ; suvelasthaḥ → suvela-sthaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 9.30 (ocean’s instruction to build bridge); Agni Purana 10 (war episode continuation)
FAQs
It conveys practical know-how in narrative form: the engineering-like act of building a causeway (Nala’s bridge) using available natural materials (trees, rocks/mountains) to enable an ocean crossing.
By embedding an Itihasa (Ramayana) episode, the Agni Purana integrates history-legend, sacred geography (Suvela, Lanka), and exemplary action (collective effort of the Vanaras), showing how it compiles multiple knowledge-domains beyond ritual alone.
It highlights dharmic success through divinely aligned effort: righteous purpose (Rama’s mission) supported by skill and collective service (Vanaras, Nala), implying that disciplined action in service of dharma yields decisive fruition.