Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 14
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
अनीकिनी दशानीकिन्यो ऽक्षोहिण्यो गजादिभिः धनुः कोदण्ड+इष्वासौ कोटिरस्याटनी स्मृता
anīkinī daśānīkinyo 'kṣohiṇyo gajādibhiḥ dhanuḥ kodaṇḍa+iṣvāsau koṭirasyāṭanī smṛtā
Zehn «anīkinī» bilden eine «akṣauhiṇī», vollständig mit Elefanten und anderen Truppen. Für sie wird die Zahl der Bögen—einschließlich «kodaṇḍa» und «iṣvāsa»—mit einem Crore angegeben; und diese standardisierte militärische Rechnung wird als «āṭanī» überliefert.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, in the encyclopedic discourse of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Compute large-scale army strength (akṣauhiṇī) from anīkinīs and standardize weapon-count reckoning (āṭanī) for audits, supply, and mobilization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Akṣauhiṇī composition and āṭanī weapon reckoning","lookup_keywords":["anīkinī","akṣauhiṇī","gaja (elephants)","kodaṇḍa/iṣvāsa","āṭanī"],"quick_summary":"States that ten anīkinīs make an akṣauhiṇī with elephants etc., and records a standard reckoning where bows (kodaṇḍa, iṣvāsa) are counted as a crore—useful for logistical accounting."}
Weapon Type: Bow (kodaṇḍa, iṣvāsa)
Concept: Māna-pramāṇa (standard measures) for state power
Application: Use shared macro-units and inventory standards to coordinate allies, compare forces, and prevent corruption in arms accounting.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda / Rajadharma (Military science and army organization)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast mustering ground: multiple anīkinīs assembled; a commander indicates that ten form an akṣauhiṇī; nearby, an armoury ledger counts bows—kodaṇḍa and iṣvāsa—stacked in bundles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panoramic army camp with elephants and standards, ten divisions visually separated, scribe with palm-leaf ledger marking counts, bundles of bows depicted stylized","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal commander on platform, gold-highlighted bows and quivers, elephants richly caparisoned, inscriptions indicating akṣauhiṇī and āṭanī","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene with clear division markers for ten anīkinīs, inventory table of bows labeled kodaṇḍa/iṣvāsa, neat composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed camp with elephants, cavalry, and chariots, accountant-scribes tallying bow bundles, commander reviewing muster rolls under a canopy"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: daśa+anīkinyaḥ→daśānīkinyaḥ; anīkinyaḥ+akṣohiṇyaḥ→anīkinyo 'kṣohiṇyaḥ; gaja+ādibhiḥ→gajādibhiḥ; kodaṇḍa+iṣvāsau given as split; koṭiḥ+rasya+āṭanī→koṭirasyāṭanī.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda: unit scaling (365.12–365.13) and bow terminology (365.15)
FAQs
It gives Dhanurveda/Rajadharma technical enumeration: how army divisions scale up (anīkinī → akṣauhiṇī) and a standard reckoning of weaponry (bows such as kodaṇḍa and iṣvāsa) expressed in large-number units like koṭi.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical statecraft and war-science by defining troop categories, logistics-oriented counts, and technical vocabulary—showing it functions as a compendium of governance and military knowledge.
Indirectly, it supports righteous kingship (rājadharma): disciplined knowledge of forces and arms is framed as part of maintaining dharma through protection of subjects, rather than as a ritual act promising separate merit.