Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 20
Chapter 233 — Ṣāḍguṇya (The Six Measures of Royal Policy) and Foreign Daṇḍa
उदासीनो मध्यगो वा संश्रयात्संशयः स्मृतः समेन सन्धिरन्वेष्यो ऽहीनेन च बलीयसा
udāsīno madhyago vā saṃśrayātsaṃśayaḥ smṛtaḥ samena sandhiranveṣyo 'hīnena ca balīyasā
যি উদাসীন থাকে বা মধ্যস্থ হৈ থাকে, আশ্ৰয় (সংশ্ৰয়) লোৱাৰ বিষয়ে তাক ‘সংশয়’ অৱস্থাত বুলি স্মৃত হৈছে। সেয়ে সন্ধি সমানৰ সৈতে বিচাৰিব লাগে, নতুবা—হীনৰ সৈতে নহয়—বলৱানৰ সৈতে।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in rajadharma/nīti)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Alliance selection rule: when neutral/undecided about refuge, choose an equal ally; if not possible, align with the stronger rather than the weaker.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Alliance Choice in Saṃśaya (Neutral/Middle Position)","lookup_keywords":["udāsīna","madhyaga","saṃśaya","saṃśraya","sama-bali"],"quick_summary":"A neutral or middle king in doubt about protection should seek alliance with an equal; failing that, with a stronger power (not an inferior)."}
Concept: In uncertainty, security comes from parity or superior protection; inferiors increase vulnerability.
Application: When hedging between powers, formalize refuge/overlordship with an equal partner or a stronger guarantor to deter aggression.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Diplomacy, Alliance-making, and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ‘middle king’ between two rival kingdoms weighs alliance offers; scales show ‘equal’ and ‘stronger’ as preferred choices; envoys stand on both sides.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central king seated with balance scale, two envoys flanking, one labeled ‘Sama’, one ‘Balīyān’, muted traditional palette and iconic symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central king with gold halo, two allied kings presented on either side, gold-embossed scale motif indicating preference for equal/stronger alliance.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diplomacy scene: council table with two treaty drafts, annotations ‘Sama’ and ‘Balīyān’, refined lines and calm composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, three courts in one frame: central neutral ruler, left and right envoys with gifts, subtle visual cue of stronger army behind one envoy, detailed textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Sri","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संश्रयात्संशयः→संश्रयात्+संशयः; सन्धिरन्वेष्यः→सन्धिः+अन्वेष्यः; अन्वेष्योऽहीनेन→अन्वेष्यः+अहीनेन
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma: mandala theory (ari, mitra, madhyama, udāsīna); Agni Purana sections on saṃśraya and sandhi
FAQs
This verse teaches political nīti: a neutral or middle-positioned ruler should resolve uncertainty by choosing a sound alliance—preferably with an equal, or otherwise with a stronger (not inferior) protector/partner.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual and mythology into practical governance—codifying diplomatic categories (neutral/middle power), refuge-seeking (saṃśraya), and treaty-choice (sandhi) as usable state policy.
By urging prudent alliance-making and avoidance of indecisive conduct, it supports dharmic kingship—reducing needless conflict and protecting subjects, which is treated as a ruler’s religious duty (rāja-dharma).