Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 30
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
चतुरङ्गबलोपेतः सर्वसैन्येन नादयन् एवं कृत्वा गृहं गच्छेद्विसर्जितजलाञ्जलिः
caturaṅgabalopetaḥ sarvasainyena nādayan evaṃ kṛtvā gṛhaṃ gacchedvisarjitajalāñjaliḥ
Pourvu de l’armée aux quatre composantes, faisant retentir toute la troupe, après avoir agi ainsi il doit rentrer chez lui, après avoir relâché (offert puis laissé tomber) une poignée d’eau.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s usual frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Post-rite mobilization and demobilization: proceed with the fourfold army with resounding signals, then return home after completing the rite and releasing the water-offering—closing the operation ritually and administratively.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Caturaṅga-Bala March Signal and Jalāñjali Visarjana (Rite Closure)","lookup_keywords":["chaturanga-bala","sainya-nada","jalanjali","visarjana","griha"],"quick_summary":"Move with the fourfold army while sounding the host, then conclude by releasing the water-offering and return—marking both tactical readiness and ritual completion."}
Weapon Type: Caturaṅga-bala (infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephants)
Concept: Power is bounded by procedure: begin with rite, act with order, end with formal release (visarjana).
Application: In governance and operations, include explicit closure steps (dismissal, offerings, return) to prevent disorder and lingering obligations.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Sena-vyavastha (Governance and Military Procedure)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Palace/Encampment
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast fourfold army assembled—elephants, chariots, cavalry, infantry—raising a thunderous sound of drums and conches; afterward the king releases a handful of water to conclude and the procession returns home.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: panoramic caturaṅga army in stylized tiers, conches and drums prominent, elephants and chariots in profile, concluding scene with king pouring water from cupped hands, bold colors and rhythmic repetition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: glittering army standards with gold leaf, dramatic central king performing jalāñjali release, ornate instruments, rich reds and greens, embossed detailing on armor and caparisons.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional composition labeling the four limbs of the army, clear depiction of signaling instruments, then a small vignette of water-offering release and orderly return, fine lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed military review with drums, kettledrums, conches, varied units, then a quiet closing moment of water release near palace road, naturalistic landscape and floral borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुरङ्गबलोपेतः = चतुरङ्ग-बल-उपेतः; गच्छेद्विसर्जितजलाञ्जलिः = गच्छेत् विसर्जित-जलाञ्जलिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 267.26 (consecration and elephant ranks); Agni Purana 267.28 (bali distribution)
FAQs
It prescribes the formal conclusion of a military action/procession: the commander, with the fourfold army, makes the host sound (drums/clamor) and then performs a concluding jalāñjali-visarjana (water-libation release) before returning home.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana records practical statecraft and war-protocol—here combining military organization (caturaṅga-bala) with a ritualized closure (water-libation), showing how governance and sacred procedure interlock.
The released jalāñjali functions as a purificatory and concluding act, ritually ‘dismissing’ the undertaking and marking auspicious completion, helping neutralize impurity or fault accrued in martial activity.