Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 15
Sahāya-sampattiḥ (Securing Support/Allies): Royal Appointments, Court Offices, Spies, and Personnel Ethics
समन्त्रो च यथान्यायात् कुर्याद्धस्तिवनेचरान् तत्पदान्वेषणे यत्तानध्यक्षांस्तत्र कारयेत्
samantro ca yathānyāyāt kuryāddhastivanecarān tatpadānveṣaṇe yattānadhyakṣāṃstatra kārayet
Und mit den passenden Mantras soll er nach rechtmäßigem Verfahren Elefanten‑Waldkundige (Fährtenleser) einsetzen. Zur Suche nach jenen Spuren soll er dort Aufseher bestellen, die die Unternehmung leiten und überwachen.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Organizing lawful search-and-tracking operations using specialized forest/elephant personnel under supervised command, with sanctioned mantras/authorizations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hastivana-cara-vyavasthā (Elephant-forester deployment) and Padānveṣaṇa (Tracking)","lookup_keywords":["hastivana-cara","padānveṣaṇa","adhyakṣa","samantreṇa","vyavahāra"],"quick_summary":"Deploy trained elephant-forest trackers under proper legal protocol and authorized mantras; appoint supervisors to manage footprint-tracking and field operations."}
Weapon Type: Spear
Concept: State power must be exercised through rule-bound procedure, specialization, and accountable supervision.
Application: Use chain-of-command, legal warrants/protocols, and field supervisors for searches and pursuits.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Daṇḍanīti (Governance, policing, and statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A supervised tracking party in a dense forest: elephant-foresters examine footprints, mark trails, and report to an overseeing officer while reciting sanctioned mantras/commands.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: lush green-brown forest, trackers with staffs and leaf bundles, an officer with insignia, stylized footprints on the ground, rhythmic composition, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central supervisor with gold detailing, attendants pointing to footprints, symbolic elephant motifs, decorative foliage, strong frontal figures with gilded accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional depiction—close-up of footprints, trackers demonstrating signs, supervisor holding a tablet/scroll, delicate shading and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: naturalistic forest scene with detailed flora, trackers crouching to inspect prints, officer on horseback/elephant at a distance, fine perspective and documentary realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समन्त्रो = स + मन्त्रः (कर्मधारय); यथान्यायात् = यथा + न्यायात् (अव्ययीभाव/अव्ययवत् प्रयोग); कुर्याद्धस्ति- = कुर्यात् + हस्ति-; तत्पदान्वेषणे = तत् + पद + अन्वेषणे; यत्तानध्यक्षान् = यत् + तान् + अध्यक्षान्; अध्यक्षांस्तत्र = अध्यक्षान् + तत्र
Related Themes: Agni Purana 220 (Daṇḍanīti operational measures)
FAQs
It teaches a combined dharma-legal and ritual protocol: deploying specialized forest/elephant trackers for footprint-tracing, accompanied by mantras, and placing appointed supervisors (adhyakṣas) to manage the search operation.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical administrative know-how—how a state organizes mantric procedure, field personnel (trackers), and oversight (adhyakṣas) during searches—showing the Purana’s coverage of governance and security alongside ritual culture.
By insisting on yathā-nyāya (proper procedure) and mantra-guided action, the verse frames enforcement as dharmic duty—reducing arbitrariness and aligning state action with righteous order, which is presented as merit-bearing and socially purifying.