Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 47
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
पक्षयोश् च गजानीकं व्यूहोन्तर्भेद्ययं स्मृतः रथस्थाने हयान् दद्यात् पदातींश् च हयश्राये
pakṣayoś ca gajānīkaṃ vyūhontarbhedyayaṃ smṛtaḥ rathasthāne hayān dadyāt padātīṃś ca hayaśrāye
En ambos flancos debe apostarse el cuerpo de elefantes; esto se enseña como una subdivisión del arreglo, llamada “antarbhedya” (penetración interna/entrelazamiento). En el puesto destinado a los carros se coloca la caballería, y en el puesto de la caballería se coloca la infantería.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Creating an interlocking/inner-penetrating sub-array by placing elephants on flanks and deliberately swapping unit roles (cavalry/chariot/infantry) to confuse the enemy and adapt to terrain/resources.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Antarbhedya vyūha and role-swapping of arms","lookup_keywords":["antarbhedya","gaja-pakṣa","ratha-sthāna","haya-sthāna","padāti-vyatyaya"],"quick_summary":"Station elephant corps on both flanks to form an antarbhedya (interlocking/inner-penetrating) sub-array. Employ tactical substitution: place cavalry where chariots would be, and infantry where cavalry would be, to adapt and misdirect."}
Weapon Type: Elephants (gaja), chariots (ratha), cavalry (haya), infantry (padāti)
Concept: Flexibility and intelligent substitution preserve function when ideal resources or conditions are absent.
Application: Build modular doctrine: units learn alternate roles; commanders can reconfigure arrays quickly to counter enemy expectations.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Military Science: Vyūha-racanā / Battle Formations)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Elephants anchor both flanks in a tight interlocking array; within the formation, cavalry occupies the chariot station and infantry occupies the cavalry station, creating a deceptive, adaptive layout.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: flanking elephants forming a protective bracket; interior troop icons swapped—horses in chariot-marked bays, infantry in horse-marked bays; bold outlines, patterned caparisons.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate flank elephants with gold detailing; central swapped units shown iconically with labeled standards; decorative borders emphasizing the ‘interlocking’ symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic illustration with arrows showing substitution (ratha-sthāna → haya, haya-sthāna → padāti); clean composition, soft palette, manuscript aesthetic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: richly detailed elephants on flanks; commanders signaling unit swaps; cavalry moving into chariot lanes, infantry advancing into cavalry lanes; lively realism and fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पक्षयोश् च = पक्षयोः + च; व्यूहोन्तर्भेद्ययं = व्यूहः + अन्तर्भेद्यः + अयम् (ः + अ → ओ; then sandhi); पदातींश् च = पदातीन् + च (न् + च → ंश्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 241 (vyūha-bheda and aṅga-vyatyaya rules)
FAQs
It imparts Dhanurveda-based tactical knowledge: how to position elephant units on the flanks and how to interchange unit-types (placing cavalry where chariots would be, and infantry where cavalry would be) as a specific sub-configuration of a battle array.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and war-science: it catalogues battlefield logistics, troop-class roles (elephants, chariots, cavalry, infantry), and formation-variants—demonstrating its broad, encyclopedic coverage of Rajadharma and Dhanurveda.
Its primary thrust is pragmatic (protection of the realm and disciplined conduct in warfare). In the Purāṇic frame, competent, rule-bound defense by a ruler supports dharma and social order, reducing adharmic harm through organized, strategic action.