Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 14
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
अनीकिनी दशानीकिन्यो ऽक्षोहिण्यो गजादिभिः धनुः कोदण्ड+इष्वासौ कोटिरस्याटनी स्मृता
anīkinī daśānīkinyo 'kṣohiṇyo gajādibhiḥ dhanuḥ kodaṇḍa+iṣvāsau koṭirasyāṭanī smṛtā
عشر «anīkinī» تُكوِّن «akṣauhiṇī» واحدة، مكتملةً بالفيلة وسائر القوات. ويُقال إن عدد الأقواس فيها—بما في ذلك «kodaṇḍa» و«iṣvāsa»—هو كروْر واحد؛ ويُحفظ هذا الحساب المعياري باسم «āṭanī» (مقياس عسكري للتعداد).
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, in the encyclopedic discourse of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Compute large-scale army strength (akṣauhiṇī) from anīkinīs and standardize weapon-count reckoning (āṭanī) for audits, supply, and mobilization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Akṣauhiṇī composition and āṭanī weapon reckoning","lookup_keywords":["anīkinī","akṣauhiṇī","gaja (elephants)","kodaṇḍa/iṣvāsa","āṭanī"],"quick_summary":"States that ten anīkinīs make an akṣauhiṇī with elephants etc., and records a standard reckoning where bows (kodaṇḍa, iṣvāsa) are counted as a crore—useful for logistical accounting."}
Weapon Type: Bow (kodaṇḍa, iṣvāsa)
Concept: Māna-pramāṇa (standard measures) for state power
Application: Use shared macro-units and inventory standards to coordinate allies, compare forces, and prevent corruption in arms accounting.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda / Rajadharma (Military science and army organization)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast mustering ground: multiple anīkinīs assembled; a commander indicates that ten form an akṣauhiṇī; nearby, an armoury ledger counts bows—kodaṇḍa and iṣvāsa—stacked in bundles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panoramic army camp with elephants and standards, ten divisions visually separated, scribe with palm-leaf ledger marking counts, bundles of bows depicted stylized","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal commander on platform, gold-highlighted bows and quivers, elephants richly caparisoned, inscriptions indicating akṣauhiṇī and āṭanī","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene with clear division markers for ten anīkinīs, inventory table of bows labeled kodaṇḍa/iṣvāsa, neat composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed camp with elephants, cavalry, and chariots, accountant-scribes tallying bow bundles, commander reviewing muster rolls under a canopy"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: daśa+anīkinyaḥ→daśānīkinyaḥ; anīkinyaḥ+akṣohiṇyaḥ→anīkinyo 'kṣohiṇyaḥ; gaja+ādibhiḥ→gajādibhiḥ; kodaṇḍa+iṣvāsau given as split; koṭiḥ+rasya+āṭanī→koṭirasyāṭanī.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda: unit scaling (365.12–365.13) and bow terminology (365.15)
FAQs
It gives Dhanurveda/Rajadharma technical enumeration: how army divisions scale up (anīkinī → akṣauhiṇī) and a standard reckoning of weaponry (bows such as kodaṇḍa and iṣvāsa) expressed in large-number units like koṭi.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical statecraft and war-science by defining troop categories, logistics-oriented counts, and technical vocabulary—showing it functions as a compendium of governance and military knowledge.
Indirectly, it supports righteous kingship (rājadharma): disciplined knowledge of forces and arms is framed as part of maintaining dharma through protection of subjects, rather than as a ritual act promising separate merit.