Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 17
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
लोकस्तदाज्ञया पूजां करिष्यति तदा तव पालनीयस्त्वया राजा युद्धे ऽध्वनि तथा गृहे
lokastadājñayā pūjāṃ kariṣyati tadā tava pālanīyastvayā rājā yuddhe 'dhvani tathā gṛhe
وبأمره سيقوم الناس حينئذٍ بإقامة العبادة لك. لذلك يجب عليك أن تحمي الملك—في ساحة الحرب، وفي الطريق، وكذلك في الدار.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Defines the elephant’s protective duty to the king across contexts—battlefield, travel, and palace—linking public ritual obedience to security obligations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Gaja’s Protective Duty to the King (Yuddha–Adhvan–Gṛha)","lookup_keywords":["rāja-rakṣā","yuddhe","adhvani","gṛhe","ājñā-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"When the king commands public worship, the elephant gains honor and must reciprocate by protecting the king in war, on journeys, and at home. It frames a duty-exchange between royal patronage and security service."}
Weapon Type: Elephant corps (gaja-senā)
Concept: Honor received under royal command entails reciprocal obligation—protection of the ruler in all spheres.
Application: Institutionalize clear duty statements for protectors (guards, escorts, security units) covering battle, transit, and residence.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Kingship, and Protection Duties)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The royal elephant stands as the king’s protector in three settings: battlefield, road-journey, and palace, while people perform worship by royal command.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych composition: left battlefield with banners, center royal procession on a road with guards, right palace courtyard; the same caparisoned elephant positioned protectively near the king; bold outlines, ritual lamps and flower offerings by citizens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, three-panel narrative with gold accents on armor and ornaments; citizens offering flowers; elephant beside the king in procession and in court; strong symmetry and auspicious framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean narrative sequencing, labeled-like clarity: yuddha scene, adhvan scene, gṛha scene; refined linework showing protective stance of elephant and disciplined attendants.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with detailed landscapes for the road scene, palace architecture for the home scene, and a compact battle vignette; the elephant consistently near the king, fine borders and calligraphic cartouches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोकः+तत्→लोकस्तत्; तत्+आज्ञया→तदाज्ञया; पालनीयः+त्वया→पालनीयस्त्वया; युद्धे+अध्वनि→युद्धेऽध्वनि (अवग्रह).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 290.16 (appointment and worship); Agni Purana 290.20 (battle-protection prayer)
FAQs
It states a governance-linked ritual principle: public worship is carried out under royal authorization, and it prescribes the practical duty of ensuring the king’s security in all contexts—battle, travel, and residence.
It blends ritual practice (pūjā) with statecraft (rājadharma), showing how the text treats religion, public order, and political protection as interconnected domains within a single compendium.
By aligning worship with legitimate authority and emphasizing protection of the ruler (the protector of dharma), the verse implies preservation of social-religious order, supporting collective merit and stability through disciplined duty.