Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 73
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
अग्निर् उवाचरामस्तु रावणं हत्वा अयोध्यां प्राप्तवान् द्विज रामोक्तनीत्येन्द्रजितं हतवांल्लक्ष्मणः पुरा
agnir uvācarāmastu rāvaṇaṃ hatvā ayodhyāṃ prāptavān dvija rāmoktanītyendrajitaṃ hatavāṃllakṣmaṇaḥ purā
Agni sprach: O Zweimalgeborener, nachdem Rāma Rāvaṇa erschlagen hatte, kehrte er nach Ayodhyā zurück. Zuvor hatte Lakṣmaṇa Indrajit getötet, indem er der von Rāma gelehrten Strategie (nīti) folgte.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethical-political lesson: victory through righteous leadership and correct strategy; narrative memory used to teach statecraft and disciplined warfare.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rāma’s return after Rāvaṇa-vadha; Lakṣmaṇa’s slaying of Indrajit by Rāma-nīti","lookup_keywords":["Rama Ravana vadha","Ayodhya return","Lakshmana Indrajit","Rama-niti","Agni said"],"quick_summary":"Summarizes the post-war outcome and highlights that Indrajit’s defeat came through adherence to Rāma’s strategic counsel—valor guided by nīti."}
Alamkara Type: Itihāsa-saṅgraha (narrative condensation); vīra-kathā style
Weapon Type: Bow (Rāma/Lakṣmaṇa)
Concept: Nīti guided by dharma makes valor effective; rightful victory culminates in restoration of order (return to Ayodhyā).
Application: Leaders teach clear strategy and ethics; warriors act within disciplined counsel rather than impulse.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-Katha-Samgraha (Ramayana narrative summary within Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni narrates to a brāhmaṇa: scenes of Rāma’s victory over Rāvaṇa, Lakṣmaṇa striking down Indrajit following Rāma’s counsel, and the triumphant return to Ayodhyā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych: Agni as radiant sage speaking, Lakṣmaṇa aiming bow at Indrajit amid smoky battlefield, Rāma entering Ayodhyā with attendants; bold colors, divine halos, ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of Rāma’s return to Ayodhyā, gold-leaf on crowns and archways, Rāma with bow, Lakṣmaṇa beside, celebratory yet sacred composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting narrative panel with clear sequencing: Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa (nīti-upadeśa), then Indrajit’s fall, then Ayodhyā reception; fine linework and gentle palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature courtly rendering of Ayodhyā procession, detailed architecture and textiles; inset vignette of Lakṣmaṇa vs Indrajit, Agni narrating at margin"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अग्निर् = अग्निः (विसर्ग-सन्धि); उवाचरामस्तु = उवाच रामः तु; रामोक्तनीत्येन्द्रजितं = राम-उक्त-नीति-इन्द्रजितम्; हतवांल्लक्ष्मणः = हतवान् लक्ष्मणः (न् + ल → ँल्लेखः/अनुस्वार-लोप-प्रभावः)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rāmāyaṇa-saṅgraha sections (narrative summaries across adjacent chapters)
FAQs
This verse conveys nīti (statecraft/strategy) in an Itihāsa frame: Lakṣmaṇa’s victory over Indrajit is attributed to following Rāma’s instructed tactical method (rāmokta-nīti).
By embedding Itihāsa (Ramayana) narrative alongside other disciplines, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium—preserving ethical exemplars (dharma) and practical governance/strategy (nīti) within a broader encyclopedic text.
It highlights dharma aligned action: the defeat of adharma (Rāvaṇa/Indrajit) and the restoration of righteous order, implying that following righteous counsel and disciplined strategy supports the re-establishment of cosmic and social harmony.