Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 9
Somavaṃśa-saṃkṣepaḥ
Conclusion of the Lunar Dynasty Description
सूरसेनश् च सूरश् च धृष्टोक्तः कृष्ण एव च जयध्वजश् च नामासीदावन्त्यो नृपतिर्महान्
sūrasenaś ca sūraś ca dhṛṣṭoktaḥ kṛṣṇa eva ca jayadhvajaś ca nāmāsīdāvantyo nṛpatirmahān
سورَسین اور سور، دھِرِشٹوکت، نیز کرشن؛ اور جَیَدھوج نام کا (بادشاہ) بھی تھا—اسی سلسلے میں اوَنتی کا عظیم نَرپتی مشہور ہوا۔
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic account to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Genealogical memory for political legitimacy and regional identity (Avanti line); used by bards/purohitas to situate rulers within recognized dynastic sequences.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Names in the Avanti-linked lineage (Sūrasena, Sūra, Dhṛṣṭokta, Kṛṣṇa, Jayadhvaja)","lookup_keywords":["Avanti","Jayadhvaja","Surasena","Dhrishtokta","genealogy"],"quick_summary":"A compact onomastic list preserves dynastic succession; such lists function as authoritative indices for Purāṇic historiography."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā / enumeration
Concept: Preservation of names and succession as a form of cultural knowledge (smṛti) sustaining social order.
Application: Use as a reference list for recitation, annotation, and cross-checking dynastic tables across Purāṇas.
Khanda Section: Vamsha-Anucharita (Dynastic Genealogies / Royal Lineages)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A genealogical court-roll depiction: a royal scribe reads a lineage register while five named kings are shown as portrait medallions or sequential figures, culminating in Jayadhvaja as the great Avanti ruler.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized medallions of kings labeled in Devanagari, Jayadhvaja larger with royal parasol, palace backdrop, bold flat colors and ornamental frame","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, five king-figures in a row with gold halos, Jayadhvaja central and larger, ornate throne and arch, gold foil highlights on crowns and jewelry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, manuscript-illustration feel: scribe with palm-leaf, lineage tree motif branching to the five names, delicate lines and muted palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, genealogical album page: portraits of kings with captions, court historian presenting a scroll, architectural Avanti palace setting, fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सूरसेनश्→सूरसेनः; सूरश्→सूरः; जयध्वजश्→जयध्वजः; नामासीदावन्त्यो→नाम + आसीत् + आवन्त्यः (vowel coalescence); नृपतिर्महान्→नृपतिः + महान् (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: continuing Haihaya/Avanti genealogical passages (immediately surrounding verses)
FAQs
This verse imparts dynastic-chronicle knowledge (vaṃśa-smṛti): a catalog of royal names in the Avanti lineage, used for Purāṇic historiography rather than ritual procedure.
By preserving structured lists of rulers and regions (like Avanti), it functions as a reference index of political-geographical memory alongside the Agni Purana’s other subjects (ritual, law, arts, and sciences).
Remembering and reciting Purāṇic lineages is traditionally treated as smṛti-based puṇya (merit), reinforcing dharma through remembrance of righteous kings and the continuity of sacred history.