Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 63
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
तस्य स्त्रियो न कस्यापि रक्ष्यास्ताश् च परस्य च शत्रुं प्राप्य रणे मुक्तं पुत्रवत् परिपालयेत्
tasya striyo na kasyāpi rakṣyāstāś ca parasya ca śatruṃ prāpya raṇe muktaṃ putravat paripālayet
તેની સ્ત્રીઓનું કોઈ દ્વારા અપમાન કે હિંસા ન થવી જોઈએ; અને પરસ્ત્રીઓનું પણ રક્ષણ કરવું. યુદ્ધમાં મુક્ત/શરણ આવેલ શત્રુ મળ્યા પછી તેને પુત્ર સમાન પોષી અને રક્ષવો।
Lord Agni (traditional framing: Agni instructing a sage, often Vasiṣṭha, in rajadharma and niti)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"War-ethics: protect women (both one’s own and the enemy’s) and treat a surrendered/released enemy as a dependent under protection, preventing cycles of vengeance and lawlessness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Protection of women and care of surrendered enemy","lookup_keywords":["stri-raksha","para-stri-raksha","shatru-mukta","putravat-paripalana","yuddha-niti"],"quick_summary":"Women are inviolable and must be protected universally; an enemy who has been released/surrendered should be maintained like a son, reflecting restraint and dharmic kingship."}
Concept: Dharma in war includes safeguarding the vulnerable and extending protection even to a former enemy once he is disarmed/released.
Application: Codifies ethical constraints for armies and rulers; supports stable post-war reconciliation and social order.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, ethics of warfare, conduct toward women and captives)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A victorious camp where women are guarded respectfully by soldiers, and a surrendered enemy—unarmed—receives food and protection under the king’s order, treated like a dependent son.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style ethical-war scene: soldiers forming a protective ring around women, king gesturing protection, surrendered enemy seated receiving water/food, strong outlines and warm palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of king granting protection, gold-leaf accents on royal attire, women depicted with dignity, surrendered enemy offered a cloth and meal, devotional aura of dharma","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with didactic clarity: labeled figures (women protected, surrendered enemy), calm court-camp setting, fine ornamentation, emphasis on gesture of protection","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature camp scene, detailed expressions of relief and humility, guards respectfully stationed, king’s decree being conveyed, surrendered enemy receiving provisions, intricate tents and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रक्ष्यास्ताश्च = रक्ष्याः ताः च; कस्यापि = कस्य अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Niti sections on treatment of captives and civilians; Agni Purana Dharmashastra-like passages on stri-dharma and protection
FAQs
It imparts rajadharma/niti: a king’s wartime code—protect women (including those of the enemy) and treat a spared or released enemy humanely, like one’s own child.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies practical statecraft and wartime conduct; this verse functions as a concise rule of governance and military ethics within its broad, multi-disciplinary scope.
Protecting non-combatants and showing mercy to a subdued enemy is framed as dharmic restraint (ahiṁsā and kṣamā in practice), reducing sinful fallout of war and accruing merit through protection and compassion.