Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 26
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
अनुयानापसरणे शीघ्रकार्योपपादनं दीनानुसरणं घातः कोटीनां जघनस्य च
anuyānāpasaraṇe śīghrakāryopapādanaṃ dīnānusaraṇaṃ ghātaḥ koṭīnāṃ jaghanasya ca
এখানে বলা হয়েছে—অন্যের অনুসরণ ও পশ্চাদপসরণ, দ্রুত কাজ সম্পন্ন করা, দীন/নীচ লোকের সঙ্গ-অনুসরণ, এবং আঘাত/ক্ষতি; সঙ্গে পার্শ্ব (কোটি) ও নিতম্ব (জঘন) সম্পর্কিত লক্ষণও।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Reading predictive marks/behavioral tendencies for personnel assessment: identifying retreating/following disposition, speed of execution, low-company association, and injury-proneness linked with bodily marks (flanks/buttocks).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Lakṣaṇa (Predictive Marks): Anuyāna-Apasaraṇa, Śīghra-kārya, Dīna-saṅga, and Injury; Koṭi-Jaghana Indicators","lookup_keywords":["lakṣaṇa","anuyāna","apasaraṇa","koṭi","jaghana"],"quick_summary":"Certain behavioral patterns and bodily marks are treated as omens/indicators for predicting a person’s tendencies—such as retreating, quick task completion, associating with the lowly, and susceptibility to injury."}
Concept: Lakṣaṇa-śāstra approach: inferring disposition and fate from conduct and bodily indicators for pragmatic decision-making.
Application: Use as a (historical-text) framework for vetting roles: assign high-risk duties away from injury-prone profiles; place swift executors in logistics; avoid entrusting sensitive tasks to those showing chronic retreating tendencies.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Niti-shastra (Omens, physiognomy, and predictive marks)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court assessor observes a candidate’s behavior—following others, retreating, quick execution—while a diagram-like focus highlights bodily regions: flanks (koṭi) and buttocks (jaghana) as ‘marks’ for prediction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, a royal hall with an assessor-sage gesturing, attendants observing a candidate, stylized anatomical emphasis on flanks and hips with traditional decorative motifs, calm palette with strong outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-bordered court scene, central seated assessor with palm-leaf manuscript, candidate standing, subtle highlighted regions at koṭi and jaghana, ornate pillars and textiles","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, semi-diagrammatic instructional scene: labeled body regions (koṭi, jaghana), small vignettes of behaviors (following, retreating, swift work), clean lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate court interior, a physiognomist examining posture and gait, attendants whispering, fine detailing of garments; marginal notes-like cartouches indicating koṭi and jaghana"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अनुयानापसरणे → अनुयान + अपसरणे (द्वन्द्वार्थे सप्तमी-द्वयम्); शीघ्रकार्योपपादनम् → शीघ्रकार्य + उपपादनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on śakuna/lakṣaṇa (omens, bodily marks); Agni Purana Rajadharma: selection of servants/officials and court assessment
FAQs
This verse conveys lakṣaṇa-vidyā (physiognomic/predictive knowledge): certain bodily indications are said to correlate with behavioral traits such as dependence, withdrawal, quick execution of tasks, and susceptibility to harm.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana compiles applied knowledge used in social and political life—here, omenology/physiognomy that could inform judgment about temperament and risk, aligning with wider Rajadharma and niti concerns.
In a Puranic frame, bodily signs are treated as outcomes of prior tendencies (saṃskāra/karma) and as prompts for self-correction—encouraging vigilance, ethical conduct, and restraint to mitigate harm and unwholesome associations.