Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 25
Ṣāḍguṇya — The Six Measures of Foreign Policy
with Rāja-maṇḍala Theory
हृष्टं पुष्टं बलं मत्वा गृह्णीयाद्विपरीतकं मित्रमाक्रन्द आसारो यदा स्युर्दृढभक्तयः
hṛṣṭaṃ puṣṭaṃ balaṃ matvā gṛhṇīyādviparītakaṃ mitramākranda āsāro yadā syurdṛḍhabhaktayaḥ
Hat man die Kräfte des Verbündeten als heiter gestimmt, gut versorgt und stark erkannt, so soll man sodann die Gegenmaßnahme ergreifen (d. h. die umgekehrte Strategie gegen ihn anwenden); und wenn Hilferufe erschallen und ein Ansturm des Unheils einsetzt, handle man, wenn die eigenen Anhänger fest in ihrer Treue stehen.
Lord Agni (teaching Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Alliance assessment and counter-strategy: evaluate ally’s morale, supply, and strength; choose reverse measures and act decisively in crisis when one’s own supporters are loyal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Mitra-bala-parīkṣā and Viparīta-upāya (Reverse strategy)","lookup_keywords":["mitra-parīkṣā","hṛṣṭa-puṣṭa-bala","viparīta-upāya","ākranda","āsāra"],"quick_summary":"Judge a partner’s effective power by morale and provisioning; employ counter-measures when needed, and in sudden distress act when internal loyalty is firm."}
Concept: Bala is not mere numbers—morale (hṛṣṭa) and supply/nourishment (puṣṭa) are decisive; political action must be timed to internal cohesion.
Application: In modern leadership: measure team readiness via morale and resources; in crises, act only when internal alignment is secured.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Statecraft and Policy)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A commander-king evaluates an ally’s camp: soldiers well-fed and cheerful; then he turns to advisors to plan a reverse counter-move as alarm-cries rise from a sudden raid, while loyal retainers stand firm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-part narrative: left shows cheerful, well-provisioned allied troops with granaries; right shows distress cries and rushing calamity, king steady with loyal attendants, bold outlines, traditional costumes.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king and advisors with gold detailing, depiction of abundant supplies (grain sacks) and bright-faced troops, contrasted with a small vignette of alarm and loyal guards, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene with visual cues for ‘hṛṣṭa’ (smiling troops), ‘puṣṭa’ (food stores), ‘bala’ (weapons/formation), and a council planning ‘viparīta-upāya’, fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic military camp with provisions and lively soldiers, sudden messenger bringing distress news, king confers with wazirs, loyal bodyguards attentive, detailed textiles and tents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gṛhṇīyādviparītakam = gṛhṇīyāt + viparītakam; mitramākranda = mitram + ākrandaḥ (visarga lost in sandhi); syurdṛḍhabhaktayaḥ = syuḥ + dṛḍha-bhaktayaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma on mitra-lakṣaṇa (marks of allies); Agni Purana sections on daṇḍa and upāya (sāma-dāna-bheda-daṇḍa)
FAQs
Niti-vidya (statecraft): it advises assessing an ally’s morale, provisioning, and strength, and then applying a reverse/counter-policy when conditions shift and distress signals arise, relying on loyal supporters.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical governance—diplomacy, alliance evaluation, and strategic reversals—alongside its better-known ritual and theological sections.
It frames kingship as disciplined discernment (viveka) and duty-bound protection: acting with careful assessment and dependable loyalty supports stable rule, which is treated as a dharmic responsibility.