Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 63
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
यतः फल्गु यतो भिन्नं यतश्चान्यैर् अधिष्ठितं ततश्चारिबलं हन्यादात्मनश्चोपवृंहयेत्
yataḥ phalgu yato bhinnaṃ yataścānyair adhiṣṭhitaṃ tataścāribalaṃ hanyādātmanaścopavṛṃhayet
যেদিক থেকে শত্রুবল দুর্বল, যেদিক থেকে বিভক্ত, এবং যেদিক থেকে অন্যদের দ্বারা অধিষ্ঠিত/ব্যস্ত—সেই দিক থেকেই আক্রমণ করে শত্রুসেনাকে বিনাশ করবে এবং নিজের বাহিনীকে শক্তিশালী করবে।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Battlefield decision-making: identify enemy weak points, divisions, and distractions; attack from that sector while simultaneously consolidating and reinforcing one’s own army.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tactical Principle: Strike Where the Enemy is Weak/Divided/Occupied","lookup_keywords":["phalgu bala","bhinna sena","anyair adhishthita","ari-bala hana","atma-bala upabrimhana"],"quick_summary":"Exploit enemy vulnerability—weakness, fragmentation, or preoccupation—by attacking from that direction, while ensuring your own force is strengthened and supported."}
Concept: Nīti in warfare: victory is aligned with discernment (viveka) and measured strengthening of one’s own side, not mere aggression.
Application: Adopt a two-track command habit: every offensive order must include a simultaneous order for consolidation (reserves, supply, morale, formation integrity).
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science / Battlefield Tactics)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: niti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A commander surveys the battlefield, points to a weak/divided enemy sector, orders an attack there while reserves and supply lines behind his own troops are reinforced and tightened.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, panoramic battlefield with clear left-right narrative: enemy line broken in one area, allies reinforcing with elephants and banners; commander on a platform indicating the weak point; bold colors and rhythmic patterns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal commander with gold halo-like ornamentation; one side shows enemy line fractured; the other shows disciplined reinforcement of own troops; gold work on standards and armor.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, semi-diagrammatic battlefield with arrows showing attack direction toward weak sector and reinforcement flow to own center; clean lines and readable troop blocks.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, strategic council at the edge of battle; commander gesturing to a map; in background, a focused strike hits a distracted enemy wing while reserves move up; intricate detail and balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यतश्चान्यैर् = यतः + च + अन्यैः; ततश्चारिबलं = ततः + च + अरि-बलम्; हन्यादात्मनश्चोपवृंहयेत् = हन्यात् + आत्मनः + च + उपवृंहयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda: sections on vyuha deployment and battlefield conduct near 241.55–241.80
FAQs
It imparts Dhanurveda-style tactical doctrine: identify the enemy’s weak, divided, or externally-occupied sector and attack from that direction while simultaneously reinforcing one’s own strength.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and military science—here, a concise rule of operational tactics (choosing the axis of attack and force-building), reflecting its wide-ranging, encyclopedic scope.
Within Rajadharma-oriented teaching, it frames warfare as disciplined duty: minimizing risk by striking strategic weak points and maintaining one’s own order and strength, aligning action with prudent, regulated conduct rather than reckless violence.