Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 20
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
बलप्रस्थानयोः सर्वे पुरस्तात्सङ्घचारिणः जयावहा विनिर्दिष्टाः पश्चान्निधनकारिणः
balaprasthānayoḥ sarve purastātsaṅghacāriṇaḥ jayāvahā vinirdiṣṭāḥ paścānnidhanakāriṇaḥ
સેનાના પ્રસ્થાન અને આગળ વધવાના સમયે જે બધા આગળ ગોઠવાઈને સંગઠિત રીતે ચાલે છે, તેઓ ‘જયાવહ’ (વિજય લાવનાર) કહેવાયા છે; અને જે પાછળ રહી જાય છે, તેઓ ‘નિધનકારિણ’ (વિનાશ/ઘાત કરનાર) કહેવાયા છે।
Lord Agni (instructor-narrator) speaking to sage Vasiṣṭha (traditional Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Battlefield discipline: maintain forward organized movement (saṅghacāra) during march/advance; prevent straggling to avoid defeat and casualties.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Balaprasthāna—front formation brings victory; rear straggling brings ruin","lookup_keywords":["balaprasthāna","saṅghacārin","jayāvaha","pṛṣṭhataḥ","vyūha"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a practical marching principle: cohesive, organized front movement is auspicious and victory-producing; falling behind is inauspicious and destructive."}
Concept: Saṅgha (cohesion) is both auspicious sign and practical cause of success; disorder is self-destructive.
Application: In any collective task (army, governance, projects), keep the lead unit coordinated and ensure lagging members are supported/regulated.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science: Marching formations and battlefield omens)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An army column on the move: a tight, orderly vanguard at the front with banners and drums, while a few stragglers at the rear appear vulnerable—illustrating victory vs ruin.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized marching soldiers in rhythmic rows, front ranks compact with flags, rear figures scattered, strong reds/ochres, dynamic diagonals.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, royal army procession with gold-embossed standards, front formation symmetrical and auspicious, rear stragglers shown smaller and dimmer, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional military diagram scene, clear spacing, labeled 'purastāt saṅghacāriṇaḥ' and 'paścāt', emphasis on formation geometry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed marching camp with elephants/horses and footmen, vanguard tightly grouped, rear stragglers near dust clouds, realistic landscape and uniforms."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Raga Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: purastātsaṅghacāriṇaḥ = purastāt + saṅghacāriṇaḥ. paścānnidhanakāriṇaḥ = paścāt + nidhana-kāriṇaḥ (t/d assimilation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana (Dhanurveda/raṇanīti materials in various chapters)
FAQs
It teaches a Dhanurveda principle of battlefield logistics: maintain a compact, organized front formation during an advance; straggling behind is treated as tactically dangerous and ruin-causing.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and war-science—here, a concise rule on troop movement and discipline that functions like a military manual.
By framing discipline as “victory-bringing” versus “destruction-causing,” the text links orderly, duty-bound conduct (dharma in one’s role) with auspicious outcomes, while negligence and disorder are portrayed as leading to ruin.