Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 63
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
तस्य स्त्रियो न कस्यापि रक्ष्यास्ताश् च परस्य च शत्रुं प्राप्य रणे मुक्तं पुत्रवत् परिपालयेत्
tasya striyo na kasyāpi rakṣyāstāś ca parasya ca śatruṃ prāpya raṇe muktaṃ putravat paripālayet
His women are not to be violated by anyone; indeed, the women of another are also to be protected. And having obtained an enemy who has been released (or has surrendered) in battle, one should maintain and protect him as one would a son.
Lord Agni (traditional framing: Agni instructing a sage, often Vasiṣṭha, in rajadharma and niti)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"War-ethics: protect women (both one’s own and the enemy’s) and treat a surrendered/released enemy as a dependent under protection, preventing cycles of vengeance and lawlessness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Protection of women and care of surrendered enemy","lookup_keywords":["stri-raksha","para-stri-raksha","shatru-mukta","putravat-paripalana","yuddha-niti"],"quick_summary":"Women are inviolable and must be protected universally; an enemy who has been released/surrendered should be maintained like a son, reflecting restraint and dharmic kingship."}
Concept: Dharma in war includes safeguarding the vulnerable and extending protection even to a former enemy once he is disarmed/released.
Application: Codifies ethical constraints for armies and rulers; supports stable post-war reconciliation and social order.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, ethics of warfare, conduct toward women and captives)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A victorious camp where women are guarded respectfully by soldiers, and a surrendered enemy—unarmed—receives food and protection under the king’s order, treated like a dependent son.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style ethical-war scene: soldiers forming a protective ring around women, king gesturing protection, surrendered enemy seated receiving water/food, strong outlines and warm palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of king granting protection, gold-leaf accents on royal attire, women depicted with dignity, surrendered enemy offered a cloth and meal, devotional aura of dharma","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with didactic clarity: labeled figures (women protected, surrendered enemy), calm court-camp setting, fine ornamentation, emphasis on gesture of protection","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature camp scene, detailed expressions of relief and humility, guards respectfully stationed, king’s decree being conveyed, surrendered enemy receiving provisions, intricate tents and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रक्ष्यास्ताश्च = रक्ष्याः ताः च; कस्यापि = कस्य अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Niti sections on treatment of captives and civilians; Agni Purana Dharmashastra-like passages on stri-dharma and protection
FAQs
It imparts rajadharma/niti: a king’s wartime code—protect women (including those of the enemy) and treat a spared or released enemy humanely, like one’s own child.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies practical statecraft and wartime conduct; this verse functions as a concise rule of governance and military ethics within its broad, multi-disciplinary scope.
Protecting non-combatants and showing mercy to a subdued enemy is framed as dharmic restraint (ahiṁsā and kṣamā in practice), reducing sinful fallout of war and accruing merit through protection and compassion.