Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 28
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
संस्थूलस्थाणुवल्मीकवृक्षगुल्मापकण्टकं सापसारा पदातीनां भूर्नातिविषमा मता
saṃsthūlasthāṇuvalmīkavṛkṣagulmāpakaṇṭakaṃ sāpasārā padātīnāṃ bhūrnātiviṣamā matā
Un terrain qui n’est pas encombré de souches épaisses, de termitières, d’arbres, de fourrés et de petites épines—et où ne se cachent pas de serpents—est tenu pour ne pas être trop accidenté pour l’infanterie.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Terrain selection for infantry movement and encampment: choose ground free from obstacles (stumps, anthills, trees, thickets, thorny growth) and hazards (snakes), and avoid overly uneven surfaces.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pādāti-gamana-yogya Bhūmi: Obstacle-Free, Low-Hazard, Not Overly Uneven Ground","lookup_keywords":["pādāti","bhūmi-parīkṣā","valmīka","kaṇṭaka","sarpāpasāra"],"quick_summary":"Infantry-friendly terrain is relatively even and clear of dense obstacles and hidden dangers like snakes, enabling safe marching, formation integrity, and reduced injury risk."}
Weapon Type: Infantry operations (general)
Concept: Yukti (practical reasoning) in warfare: correct ground-choice prevents avoidable loss and preserves order.
Application: Before marching, conduct a ‘bhūmi-parīkṣā’ checklist: remove/avoid stumps and thickets, mark anthills, check for snakes, and select the least uneven corridor for foot troops.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military science: marching, terrain assessment, infantry movement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Terrain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Scouts and officers inspect a stretch of ground, pointing out stumps, anthills, thickets, thorny shrubs, and snake holes; a clear, gently even path is chosen for infantry columns to pass in formation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized landscape with labeled obstacles—stumps, valmīkas, trees, gulma, kaṇṭaka—scouts gesturing to a clear path, infantry in orderly line, bold contours and earthy greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted path boundary and banners, central officer indicating the safe corridor, decorative depiction of anthills and thorny shrubs, symmetrical composition with marching infantry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-technical terrain diagram: obstacle icons and a highlighted ‘safe lane’ for infantry, scouts with measuring staff, calm palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic terrain with detailed shrubs and trees, a scout lifting grass to reveal a snake, officers choosing a route, infantry column moving along the smoother ground, fine brushwork and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सापसारा → सा + अपसारा; भूर्नातिविषमा → भूः + न + अतिविषमा; संस्थूलस्थाणु...अपकण्टकम् = समाहार-द्वन्द्व-समासः (बहुपद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda: mārga-vicaya (route examination) and marching rules; Agni Purana sections on śivira-sthāna (camp-site selection)
FAQs
It gives a Dhanurveda guideline for selecting/recognizing infantry-suitable terrain: avoid ground obstructed by stumps, anthills, trees, thickets, thorny patches, and snake-infested areas.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical warcraft—logistics and fieldcraft—by codifying how an army evaluates terrain for safe and efficient foot-soldier movement.
Indirectly, it promotes dharmic conduct in warfare by minimizing avoidable harm and disorder—reducing needless injury to soldiers and preventing reckless engagement with dangerous ground.