Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
मर्दयन्तु रणे शत्रून् सम्प्रगृह्योपहारकं सपुत्रमातृभृत्यो ऽहं देवा वः शरणङ्गतः
mardayantu raṇe śatrūn sampragṛhyopahārakaṃ saputramātṛbhṛtyo 'haṃ devā vaḥ śaraṇaṅgataḥ
Qu’ils écrasent les ennemis au combat, après avoir saisi le porteur du tribut/des offrandes. Ô dieux, moi—avec mes fils, ma mère et mes serviteurs—je suis venu vers vous en quête de refuge.
Lord Agni (as narrator of the Agni Purana, presenting a prayoga-style verse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Battle-protection and enemy-subduing prayer combined with śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) for the fighter and his dependents; used as a pre-combat or crisis kavaca.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Raṇa-rakṣā and Śaraṇāgati Prayer for Crushing Enemies","lookup_keywords":["raṇa","mardayantu","śaraṇāgati","kavaca","jaya"],"quick_summary":"The speaker asks the invoked powers to crush enemies in battle while declaring refuge in the gods along with family and retinue—linking martial success to divine protection and ethical dependence."}
Concept: Śaraṇāgati: acknowledging human vulnerability and placing dependents under divine guardianship even amid righteous conflict.
Application: Frame martial action within dharmic restraint: seek protection, not mere aggression; remember responsibility toward family and followers.
Khanda Section: Raksha-mantra & Yuddha-prayoga (Protective incantations and battle-invocations)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A battlefield edge scene: the supplicant-warrior stands with folded hands before unseen deities, with sons, mother, and attendants behind; enemies in the distance; the prayer for crushing foes and seeking refuge is central.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of a warrior in traditional armor praying, family group behind, stylized battlefield beyond; divine presence suggested by luminous aura above; bold lines, earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of the warrior in añjali-mudrā with gold halo, family figures behind, a symbolic divine canopy overhead; gold embossing emphasizing protection and victory.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore narrative painting: pre-battle camp, warrior reciting mantra, attendants holding standards; delicate shading, clear storytelling, manuscript aesthetic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a commander offering prayer before engagement; family/retinue at the tent entrance; distant troops; intricate textiles, realistic faces, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sampragṛhya + upahārakam → sampragṛhyopahārakam; bhṛtyaḥ + aham → bhṛtyo 'ham (avagraha); śaraṇam + gataḥ → śaraṇaṅgataḥ (anusvāra/ṅ before g).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 235 (rakṣā/jaya sequence continuing)
FAQs
It functions as a rakṣā/prayoga-style invocation: a suppliant performs śaraṇāgati (seeking divine refuge) while petitioning the gods for battlefield subjugation of enemies and capture of the opponent’s support/tribute-bearer.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied manuals (prayogas) for protection and victory—showing how Puranic religion intersects with practical concerns like conflict, security, and statecraft-adjacent outcomes.
By explicitly taking refuge in the gods (śaraṇāgati) on behalf of one’s household and dependents, the act frames victory-seeking within dharmic dependence on divine protection rather than mere personal force, emphasizing surrender and safeguarded responsibility.