Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
युद्धयात्रा (Yuddhayātrā) — The War-Expedition
हेमन्ते शिशिरे चैव रथवाजिसमाकुलां चतुरङ्गबलोपेतां वसन्ते वा शरन्म्मुखे
hemante śiśire caiva rathavājisamākulāṃ caturaṅgabalopetāṃ vasante vā śaranmmukhe
في فصلَي هِمانتا وشيشيرا (موسمي البرد)، أو في الربيع، أو عند مطلع الخريف—ينبغي أن يُسار بجيشٍ مكتظٍّ بالعربات والخيول، مكتملٍ بالقوى الأربع (التشاتورأنغا).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Seasonal planning of royal campaigns and mobilization of the fourfold army (infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephants) to maximize logistics, morale, and battlefield advantage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ritu-nirdesha for Yatra (Campaign Season) with Chaturanga-bala","lookup_keywords":["hemanta yatra","shishira yatra","vasanta yatra","sharad prarambha","chaturanga bala"],"quick_summary":"Campaigning is recommended in cold seasons (hemanta, śiśira), or alternatively in spring or early autumn, with a fully constituted fourfold army heavy in chariots and horses."}
Weapon Type: Chariot and cavalry arms (ratha-vāji-pradhāna), supported by full chaturanga forces
Concept: Kala (season/time) as a determinant of success in human action, especially statecraft and war.
Application: Choose campaign windows aligned with environmental conditions; treat time as a strategic resource.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Military Science and Campaign Timing)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king’s army setting out in a cold-season landscape: chariots lined up, horses harnessed, infantry and elephants arranged as the fourfold force, banners raised for departure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, a royal procession departing for yatra in hemanta, chariots and horses prominent, fourfold army in orderly tiers, ornamental borders, traditional costumes and weapons.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on royal insignia and banners, central king on chariot, surrounding cavalry and infantry, stylized elephants, rich reds and greens, temple-like decorative framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, detailed linework showing chaturanga formation and equipment, annotated-feel composition with seasonal cues (cool sky, muted flora), emphasis on chariots and horses.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of harnesses and armor, panoramic camp-departure scene with chariots and cavalry in foreground, infantry ranks behind, cool-season palette, courtly realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; शरन्म्मुखे = शरद् + मुखे (द् + म → न्म्, अनुनासिक-सन्धि/परसवर्ण).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 227 (Yatra-adhyaya: campaign rules and omens); Agni Purana 228 (Svapna-adhyaya begins after this)
FAQs
It gives Dhanurvedic-royal guidance on yātrā (military expedition) timing—recommending cold seasons (hemanta/śiśira), or alternatively spring or early autumn—while specifying a properly constituted caturaṅga (fourfold) army with strong chariot and cavalry components.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves pragmatic statecraft and war-science: it records seasonal logistics and force-structure (caturaṅga-bala), showing the text’s coverage of governance, strategy, and applied knowledge alongside ritual and devotion.
As a dharma-oriented directive for kings, it frames warfare as regulated by śāstra—right timing and proper organization reduce harm and disorder, aligning royal action with rajadharma rather than impulsive violence.