Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 9
Chapter 7 — रामायणवर्णनं (Description of the Rāmāyaṇa): Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara’s Defeat, and Sītā-haraṇa Prelude
रामं रामो ऽपि युयुधे शरैर् विव्याध राक्षसान् हस्त्यश्वरथपादातं बलं निन्ये यमक्षयं
rāmaṃ rāmo 'pi yuyudhe śarair vivyādha rākṣasān hastyaśvarathapādātaṃ balaṃ ninye yamakṣayaṃ
Rāma liền giao chiến, dùng tên bắn xuyên bọn rākṣasa, xô đẩy đạo quân gồm voi, ngựa, xe chiến và bộ binh của chúng xuống cõi Yama (miền tử vong).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Highlights Rama’s archery and battlefield effect on combined arms (elephants, horses, chariots, infantry); useful for martial-ethos narration and dharma-victory themes.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rāma’s arrow-battle and destruction of the rākṣasa army","lookup_keywords":["Rāma","śara","rākṣasa army","hasty-aśva-ratha-pādāta","Yama abode"],"quick_summary":"Rāma engages the rākṣasa host and, through decisive archery, annihilates their combined forces, poetically described as sending them to Yama’s realm."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti (hyperbole) in ‘to Yama’s abode’; yuddha-varṇana conventions
Weapon Type: Bow and arrows (śara)
Concept: Dharma-protected heroism: righteous force overcomes numerically superior adharma.
Application: In conflict, align means with dharma; cultivate skill and composure rather than relying on brute numbers.
Khanda Section: Avataras / Ramayana Narrative (Rama-katha, Itihasa-sangraha)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma stands firm, releasing volleys of arrows; rākṣasa troops with elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry collapse amid the battlefield chaos.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, heroic Rāma with bow in tribhaṅga-like stance, stylized arrows as repeated motifs, elephants and chariots tumbling, strong reds/ochres, dynamic diagonals conveying motion","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Rāma with radiant aura and gold embellishments on bow and ornaments, surrounding battlefield with layered troops, decorative borders, dramatic yet iconic composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of troop categories (elephant, horse, chariot, foot), Rāma’s archery shown stepwise in a single panel, fine detailing of weapons and armor","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, crowded battle scene with naturalistic animals, detailed chariots, arrows mid-flight, dust and movement, Rāma as focal figure with calm expression"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रामोऽपि = रामः + अपि; शरैर् = शरैः (visarga before consonant); यमक्षयं = यम + क्षयम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 7.8; Agni Purana 7.10
FAQs
Primarily martial imagery: the verse highlights archery (śara) as the decisive means by which a hero routs and destroys a fourfold army (elephants, horses, chariots, infantry), aligning with Dhanurveda-style battlefield description rather than ritual instruction.
Alongside rituals and doctrines, the Agni Purana also preserves itihasa-style narratives and practical cultural knowledge—here, classical categories of armies and warfare vocabulary—showing its wide thematic range.
It frames the triumph of dharmic heroism: the unrighteous aggressors (rākṣasas) meet death (Yama’s realm), implying that adharma culminates in ruin while righteous valor is upheld.