Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 57
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
मकरो व्यतिकीर्णश् च शेषः कुञ्जरराजिभिः मण्डलव्यूहभेदौ तु सर्वतोभद्रदुर्जयौ
makaro vyatikīrṇaś ca śeṣaḥ kuñjararājibhiḥ maṇḍalavyūhabhedau tu sarvatobhadradurjayau
The “Makara” and the “Vyatikīrṇa”, and likewise the “Śeṣa”, are arranged with rows of elephants. These are varieties of the Maṇḍala-type battle array; among them the “Sarvatobhadra” and the “Durjaya” are noted as hard to overcome.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Selection and deployment of elephant-based maṇḍala battle arrays (Makara, Vyatikīrṇa, Śeṣa) and recognition of hard-to-break formations (Sarvatobhadra, Durjaya) for battlefield planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-vyūha variants with elephant rows: Makara, Vyatikīrṇa, Śeṣa; Sarvatobhadra and Durjaya","lookup_keywords":["Maṇḍala-vyūha","Makara vyūha","Vyatikīrṇa","Śeṣa vyūha","Sarvatobhadra"],"quick_summary":"Describes maṇḍala-type arrays structured by elephant files; highlights Sarvatobhadra and Durjaya as especially difficult to penetrate."}
Weapon Type: Elephant corps (gaja) as primary arm; supporting arms implied
Concept: Collective order (vyūha) multiplies force; structure can create ‘durjaya’ (hard-to-conquer) resilience.
Application: Prefer robust arrays when defending baggage/king; use elephant rows to anchor the formation and deter cavalry charges.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Vyūha-racana: military formations and battle arrays)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A battlefield diagram comes alive: elephants in disciplined rows forming circular maṇḍala arrays labeled Makara, Vyatikīrṇa, and Śeṣa; two especially formidable variants—Sarvatobhadra and Durjaya—shown as dense, all-sided defensive rings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized elephants in repeating rows forming circular patterns, commanders with flags, bold outlines, rhythmic composition, labels implied by gesture, dramatic yet orderly scene","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal war-camp tableau with gold accents on elephant caparisons, formation shown from elevated view, ornate borders, emphasis on ‘invincible’ defensive ring","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic overhead formation map with elephants as icons, clear labeling spaces, commanders at cardinal points, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed elephants with howdahs, panoramic battlefield with precise ranks, dust and banners, formation geometry visible from a high vantage"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: व्यतिकीर्णश् च → व्यतिकीर्णः च (विसर्ग-सन्धि); सर्वतोभद्रदुर्जयौ = सर्वतोभद्र + दुर्जय (द्वन्द्व)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda vyūha-racana chapters listing named arrays and their components (same khanda, surrounding verses)
FAQs
It imparts Dhanurveda knowledge: naming and classifying specific battle formations (vyūhas), emphasizing elephant-line deployment and identifying Maṇḍala-type variants such as Sarvatobhadra and Durjaya as especially difficult to break.
By cataloging tactical military arrays and their sub-types, it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond theology—preserving practical statecraft and battlefield science alongside ritual and dharma.
In a Purāṇic frame, disciplined, dharmic application of strategic knowledge supports righteous protection of society; the verse implicitly upholds the kṣatriya duty of defense through well-ordered (non-chaotic) conduct in war.