Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 29
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
जलवद्धान्यधनवद्दुर्गं कालसहं महत् औदकं पार्वतं वार्क्षमैरिणं धन्विनं च षट्
jalavaddhānyadhanavaddurgaṃ kālasahaṃ mahat audakaṃ pārvataṃ vārkṣamairiṇaṃ dhanvinaṃ ca ṣaṭ
দুৰ্গত জল, ধান্য আৰু ধন থাকিব লাগে; ই মহান আৰু কালসহ (দীৰ্ঘকাল সহনক্ষম) হ’ব লাগে। দুৰ্গৰ ছয় প্ৰকাৰ—ঔদক, পাৰ্বত, বাৰ্ক্ষ, ঐৰিণ, ধন্বিন আৰু শুষ্ক বালুকাময় দুৰ্গ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Fort policy: ensure stockpiles (water, grain, wealth), durability, and classify forts by terrain for strategic defense planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Durgalakshana and Shadvidha Durga (Six Fort Types)","lookup_keywords":["durga-lakshana","audaka-durga","parvata-durga","vanadurga","dhanvi-durga"],"quick_summary":"A fort must be provisioned and enduring; forts are classified by terrain—water, mountain, forest, desert/wasteland, plain/arid tract, and sandy/dry tract—guiding defensive choice."}
Concept: Kshaya-apakarshana (resisting decline) through foresight: provisioning and choosing defenses aligned with nature.
Application: Risk management: maintain reserves; design forts to withstand long disruptions; match fort type to local geography and threat model.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Durgavidhi (Fortification and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Fort/Terrain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Six forts shown as vignettes: island/water fort, mountain citadel, forest fort, desert fort, open-plain fort, and sandy-tract fort; each stocked with water jars, granaries, and treasury chests to show readiness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, six-panel composition with stylized terrains, each fort with bold walls and watchtowers, symbolic water pots and grain heaps, strong earthy palette and ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, segmented panels with gold-highlighted fort gates, each terrain rendered decoratively (waves, rocks, trees, dunes), small icons of granary and treasure, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like depiction of six durgas with neat labels, fine linework, soft washes, emphasis on supplies (water, grain, wealth) inside each fort.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscapes for each fort type with realistic textures—rocky hills, dense woods, dunes—tiny soldiers and storehouses, meticulous architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जलवद्धान्यधनवद्दुर्गम् = जलवत् + धान्य + धनवत् + दुर्गम् (t/d assimilation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Durgavidhi: fort parts, garrisons, supplies; Agni Purana Rajadharma: protection of subjects and treasury
FAQs
It teaches durga-vidyā (fortification science): an ideal fort must have secure supplies (water, grain, wealth), be built for long endurance, and be selected/constructed according to six terrain-based categories (water, mountain, forest, wasteland, arid plain, sandy tract).
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana preserves practical Rajadharma—logistics, defense planning, and terrain-based military architecture—showing its scope as a compendium of governance and applied knowledge.
By promoting protection of subjects through durable, well-supplied defenses, the verse aligns kingship with dharma: safeguarding life and stability is treated as a righteous duty that supports social order and religious life.