Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 15
कुरुपाण्डवसङ्ग्रामवर्णनम्
Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas
अन्योन्यास्त्रनिपीडितमिति ख, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः पञ्चमेहनि दुर्धर्षः सर्वक्षत्रं प्रमथ्य च दुर्योधने तु शोकार्ते कर्णः सेनापतिस्त्वभूत्
anyonyāstranipīḍitamiti kha, gha, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ pañcamehani durdharṣaḥ sarvakṣatraṃ pramathya ca duryodhane tu śokārte karṇaḥ senāpatistvabhūt
Dị bản “anyonyāstra-nipīḍitam” được thấy trong các bản thảo kha và gha, như hai bản sao đã được đánh dấu cho biết. Vào ngày thứ năm, vị dũng sĩ không thể khuất phục, sau khi nghiền nát toàn thể hàng kṣatriya; và khi Duryodhana bị nỗi sầu khổ giày vò, Karṇa quả thật trở thành tổng chỉ huy quân đội.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Text-critical awareness (variant readings across manuscripts) alongside war-day chronology and command succession; useful for editors, translators, and historians of the epic tradition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Pāṭhabheda Note and Fifth-Day Command: Karṇa as Senāpati","lookup_keywords":["pāṭhabheda","anyonyāstra-nipīḍitam","pañcame ahani","Karṇa senāpati","manuscripts kha gha"],"quick_summary":"Records a manuscript variant (‘anyonyāstra-nipīḍitam’) and notes that on the fifth day, after severe fighting, Karṇa became commander when Duryodhana grieved—preserving both philology and narrative sequence."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (mild, via repeated consonant clusters in compound-heavy phrasing)
Weapon Type: Astra/śastra in mutual pressure (anyonyāstra-nipīḍita)
Concept: Preservation of knowledge includes preserving variants; history is transmitted through disciplined textual care.
Application: When studying tradition, note manuscript evidence; in applied fields, document versions and decisions for accountability.
Khanda Section: Itihasa–Mahabharata-Samgraha (Puranic Epic Synopsis / Rajadharma-Related Narrative)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe-like marginal note about variant readings juxtaposed with a battlefield scene where Karṇa is appointed commander on the fifth day amid mutual weapon-pressure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split composition: left shows palm-leaf manuscript and stylus with highlighted words ‘anyonyāstra-nipīḍitam’; right shows Karṇa receiving command insignia before troops, bold colors and temple aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Karṇa as central commander with gold embellishments, attendants holding royal parasol and banner; border includes miniature palm-leaf manuscript motif in gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: top band shows manuscript variants and scribes; lower band shows day-five battlefield and Karṇa’s appointment, fine linework and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly appointment scene in a war-camp with scribes recording orders, Karṇa in armor, detailed tents, banners, and marginal calligraphy-like cartouche"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: (Editorial note segment retained as given.) पञ्चमेहनि → पञ्चमे अहनि; सेनापतिस्त्वभूत् → सेनापतिः तु अभूत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Itihāsa-saṃgraha editorial-style notes elsewhere (pāṭhabheda mentions); Agni Purāṇa Mahābhārata synopsis passages on Karṇa’s role and command changes
FAQs
This verse primarily conveys itihāsa-based military-historical knowledge: the sequencing of battle-days and the appointment of a senāpati (commander-in-chief) during the Kurukṣetra war.
By embedding a compressed Mahābhārata battlefield synopsis (events, outcomes, leadership changes) within a Purāṇic framework, the Agni Purana functions as a reference compendium that preserves epic history alongside theology, ritual, polity, and other sciences.
The verse underscores the destructive consequences of kṣatriya conflict and grief-driven leadership shifts—serving as a dharmic caution that warfare rooted in adharma culminates in collective ruin and sorrow.