Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 18
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
तिर्यग्भावं समुत्सृज्य दिव्यं भावमनुस्मर देवासुरे पुरा युद्धे श्रीगजस्त्रिदशैः कृतः
tiryagbhāvaṃ samutsṛjya divyaṃ bhāvamanusmara devāsure purā yuddhe śrīgajastridaśaiḥ kṛtaḥ
পশুভাব ত্যাগ করে দিব্য ভাব স্মরণ করো। দেব-অসুরের প্রাচীন যুদ্ধে ‘শ্রীগজ’ ত্রিদশ দেবগণের দ্বারা প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়েছিল।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"A mental discipline for war-elephants: abandon base impulses, adopt a ‘divine’ composure through recollection; legitimizes the war-elephant as a consecrated instrument in cosmic conflict.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Divine Bhāva (Mental State) for the Śrīgaja in War","lookup_keywords":["divya-bhāva","tiryag-bhāva","deva-asura-yuddha","śrīgaja","anusmaraṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes a shift from animal reactivity to a divinized, disciplined mindset through recollection. It grounds the royal war-elephant’s role in the archetype of the deva–asura war, where Śrīgaja is ‘ordained by the gods’."}
Weapon Type: Elephant as battlefield platform and shock unit
Concept: Bhāva-parivartana: transforming instinctive nature through recollection of a higher (divine) identity to act rightly under stress.
Application: Use pre-action visualization and identity-priming (ritual recollection) to stabilize high-risk agents (warriors, guards, mounts) before engagement.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda / Military Science (divine weapons, war-instructions, protective visualization)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A war-elephant is instructed to abandon animal agitation and assume a radiant, divine composure, recalling its origin in the gods’ ancient war against asuras.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic deva–asura battlefield with stylized clouds and flames; a luminous elephant at center with a calm eye, gods above bestowing radiance; mahout in disciplined posture; bold reds, greens, and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central elephant with gold-embossed aura, gods (tridaśa) in upper register granting blessing; battlefield below with subdued asuras; heavy ornamentation and sacred glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional scene: guru/mahout gesturing ‘anusmara’ to the elephant; faint overlay of divine imagery (gods) as visualization; fine lines, soft palette, clarity of posture and expression.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, layered narrative: foreground mahout calming elephant, midground battle lines, background celestial assembly; delicate rendering of armor, banners, and expressions; intricate border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तिर्यक्+भावम्→तिर्यग्भावम् (क्→ग्); भावम्+अनुस्मर→भावमनुस्मर; श्रीगजः+त्रिदशैः→श्रीगजस्त्रिदशैः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 290.20 (divya-bhāva linked to protection)
FAQs
It teaches a combat-oriented inner discipline: abandon the brutish/animal mentality (tiryagbhāva) and maintain a divine visualization (divya-bhāva-smṛti), linked to the sanctified archetype of the Śrīgaja used/established by the gods for victory in war.
Alongside practical warfare topics (Dhanurveda), it integrates psychological-spiritual technique—mindset cultivation and sacred exemplars (deva–asura war, Śrīgaja)—showing how the Agni Purana fuses military instruction with ritual-theological frameworks.
Replacing a base disposition with a divine state is presented as purification of intention in conflict, aligning action with dharma and invoking protective, deva-sanctioned power rather than mere violence driven by animal impulse.