Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
क्रोशमात्रं गतस्तिष्ठेत् पूजयेद्देवता द्विजान् परदेशं व्रजेत् पश्चादात्मसैन्यं हि पालयन्
krośamātraṃ gatastiṣṭhet pūjayeddevatā dvijān paradeśaṃ vrajet paścādātmasainyaṃ hi pālayan
Nachdem er nur eine Krośa weit gegangen ist, soll er anhalten und den Gottheiten sowie den Dvija (den Zweimalgeborenen) Ehre erweisen; danach soll er in ein fremdes Land weiterziehen, wobei er sein eigenes Gefolge (seine Kräfte) sorgfältig schützt.
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Campaign/travel SOP: first halt after a krośa for worship and honoring Brahmins, then proceed to foreign territory while protecting one’s own forces/retinue.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yātrā-nīti: First halt, honors, and safeguarding the retinue","lookup_keywords":["krosha","yatra-niti","devata-puja","dvija-puja","atma-sainya"],"quick_summary":"After a short initial march, the ruler halts to perform auspicious honors to deities and Brahmins, then continues travel with vigilant protection and management of his own troops and attendants."}
Concept: Dharma and pragmatism together: worship and honoring the worthy precede risky undertakings; protection of dependents is kingly duty.
Application: Before major travel/operations, perform a brief stabilizing pause (ritual/ethical), then proceed with clear security responsibilities.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Yatra-niti (Conduct of travel, statecraft-adjacent discipline)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal caravan travels a short distance, halts, and the king offers honors to deities and Brahmins; guards secure the perimeter as the retinue prepares to enter foreign territory.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, king at a roadside altar with lamps, Brahmins receiving honors, soldiers forming a protective ring, elephants and horses resting, lush roadside trees, ritual calm with vigilant guards.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-accented portable shrine, king offering flowers, Brahmins seated with palm-leaf texts, retinue and standards behind, symmetrical composition emphasizing auspicious halt.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: measured distance marker (krośa) implied by milestone, camp layout with sentries, king performing brief puja, soft colors and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, roadside camp scene with tents, Brahmins honored, soldiers on watch, horses tethered, distant border landscape suggesting entry into another realm, meticulous textiles and faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gatastiṣṭhet = gataḥ tiṣṭhet; pūjayeddevatā = pūjayet devatāḥ; paścādātmasainyaṃ = paścāt ātma-sainyam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 235 (yātrā conduct cluster)
FAQs
It prescribes yātrā-vidhi: after setting out, halt after a short distance (one krośa), perform devotional/auspicious honors to deities and dvijas, then continue the journey with disciplined protection of one’s own escort/forces.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical manuals for public life—here, travel protocol combining ritual auspiciousness (pūjā) with administrative prudence (maintaining and protecting one’s retinue), reflecting its wide-ranging, handbook-like character.
Honoring deities and dvijas at the outset of travel frames the journey as dharmic and auspicious, seeking protection and merit, while the emphasis on safeguarding one’s people underscores righteous responsibility (dharma) in action.