Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 1
Description of the Royal Dynasties (राजवंशवर्णनम्) — Chapter Colophon and Transition
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे राजवंशवर्णनं नाम षट्सप्तत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः दधिवामनोभूदिति ख , छ , ञ , च अथ सप्तसप्रत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः पुरुवंशवर्णनं अग्निर् उवाच पुरोर्जनमेजयो ऽभूत्प्राचीन्नन्तस्तु तत्सुतः प्राचीन्नन्तान्मनस्त्युस्तु तस्माद्वीतमयो नृपः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe rājavaṃśavarṇanaṃ nāma ṣaṭsaptatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dadhivāmanobhūditi kha , cha , ña , ca atha saptasapratyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ puruvaṃśavarṇanaṃ agnir uvāca purorjanamejayo 'bhūtprācīnnantastu tatsutaḥ prācīnnantānmanastyustu tasmādvītamayo nṛpaḥ
Như vậy, trong Agni Mahāpurāṇa kết thúc chương thứ 277, mang nhan đề “Mô tả các vương triều”. (Một số bản truyền đọc: “Dadhivāmana đã xuất hiện”, như ghi trong các thủ bản kha, cha, ña và ca.) Nay bắt đầu chương thứ 278, nhan đề “Mô tả dòng dõi Puru”. Agni nói: “Từ Puru sinh ra Janamejaya; con của ông là Prācīnnanta. Từ Prācīnnanta sinh Manastyu; và từ ông sinh ra vua Vītamaya.”
Lord Agni (narrating genealogies; standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Dynastic anchoring for Itihasa-Purana chronology; aids in mapping royal lineages used in dharma, ritual patronage histories, and regional traditions.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Puru-vaṃśa (opening genealogy: Puru → Janamejaya → Prācīnnanta → Manastyu → Vītamaya)","lookup_keywords":["Puru-vamsha","Janamejaya","Pracinnanta","Manastyu","Vitamaya"],"quick_summary":"Introduces the Puru dynasty sequence and signals a chapter transition; useful as a reference chain for correlating later kings, sages, and events tied to the Paurava line."}
Concept: Smृति/itihāsa as a vehicle for preserving social memory and dharmic legitimacy through lineage.
Application: Use genealogical lists to contextualize vows, donations, and royal duties described elsewhere; supports traditional historiography and ritual patronage narratives.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Itihasa-Puranic Genealogies (Vamsha-Varṇana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as narrator reciting a royal genealogy; a scribe or disciple records names on palm-leaf, with a symbolic royal lineage tree behind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: Agni with flaming aureole seated on a lotus pedestal, gesturing as he narrates; a disciple with palm-leaf manuscript; stylized lineage tree motifs; earthy reds, ochres, and greens; flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: Agni with ornate crown and halo in gold leaf, seated, right hand in teaching gesture; palm-leaf manuscript and stylized genealogy scroll; rich jewel tones, embossed gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: refined linework showing Agni instructing a sage-scribe; clear labeled scroll segments with the names Puru, Janamejaya, Prācīnnanta, Manastyu, Vītamaya; soft shading and delicate ornament.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly setting with a learned narrator (Agni anthropomorphized with subtle flame halo) dictating to a munshi; a genealogical chart on paper; architectural pavilion, fine textiles, detailed faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य्→इति; ऽध्यायः→अध्यायः; अग्निर् उवाच→अग्निः उवाच; ऽभूत्प्राचीन्नन्तस्तु→अभूत् प्राचीन्-नन्तः तु (नामरूपेण प्राचीन्नन्तः); तत्सुतः→तत् सुतः; प्राचीन्नन्तान्मनस्त्युस्तु→प्राचीन्नन्तात् मनस्त्युः तु; तस्माद्वीतमयो→तस्मात् वीतमयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma sections on kingship duties; Agni Purana: Vamsha-varnana / dynastic catalogues (adjacent chapters)
FAQs
No ritual or technical vidyā is taught here; this passage functions as a chapter colophon and a genealogical transition into the Puru dynasty list.
By preserving structured dynastic catalogues (vaṃśāvalī) and manuscript-aware readings, it supports the Purana’s encyclopedic role as a reference for royal lineages, chronology markers, and textual transmission.
Genealogies in Purāṇas reinforce dharma through exemplars of righteous kingship and continuity of sacred history; reciting or studying them is traditionally treated as meritorious (smṛti of dharmic lineages).