Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 28
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
पृथुसीमं महाखातमुच्चप्राकारतोरणं पुरं समावसेच्छैलसरिन्मरुवनाश्रयं
pṛthusīmaṃ mahākhātamuccaprākāratoraṇaṃ puraṃ samāvasecchailasarinmaruvanāśrayaṃ
વિસ્તૃત સીમા, મહા ખાઈ-પરિખા, ઊંચા પ્રાકાર અને તોરણો ધરાવતું નગર વસાવવું જોઈએ; તે પર્વત, નદીઓ, રણ અને વનોના આશ્રય સાથે સ્થિત હોય।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Town-planning and defensive siting: specify perimeter, moat, walls, gates, and strategic ecological supports (mountain/river/desert/forest).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pura-nirmana: City Boundary, Moat, Rampart, Gate, and Site Supports","lookup_keywords":["pura-nirmana","prakaratorana","mahakhata","prithu-sima","sthana-nirnaya"],"quick_summary":"Establish a city with broad limits, a major moat, high walls and gateways, and choose a site supported by natural defenses like mountains, rivers, deserts, and forests."}
Concept: Right place-making (sthana) and boundary-making (sima) sustain social order and protection.
Application: Urban planning: integrate topography/hydrology into defense; design layered security (moat-wall-gate) and controlled access.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Pura-nirmāṇa (Town-planning and fortification)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: City/Fort site
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A planned city: wide boundary markers, a deep moat, tall ramparts with ornate gateways, and surrounding terrain—mountains, a river bend, forest edge, and arid tract—forming a natural defensive ring.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, panoramic fortified city with bold outlines, stylized mountains and river, high prakara walls and torana gates, decorative motifs on battlements, earthy greens and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central golden-gated city wall with gold leaf highlights on torana and parapets, moat rendered as patterned blue band, flanking mountains and river, ornamental framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic yet artistic city plan elevation: labeled moat, wall, gate; soft colors, precise linework, instructional composition with surrounding terrain icons.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed fort-city with crenellations and monumental gate, river with boats, distant hills, forest animals at edge, fine architectural detailing and atmospheric landscape."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समावसेच्छैल… = समावसेत् + शैल… (t + ś → cch). शैलसरिन्मरु… = सरित् + मरु (t before m → n assimilation in writing: सरिन्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vastu/Pura-nirmana passages on site selection and fort parts; Agni Purana Durgavidhi sections on prakaras and dvaras
FAQs
Vāstu-vidyā for urban defense: the verse prescribes key fortification elements—wide limits, a major moat, high ramparts, and strong gateways—plus strategic placement using natural barriers.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa treating practical statecraft and engineering (pura/durga-nirmāṇa) alongside religious topics, preserving technical guidance on settlement planning and defensive architecture.
By advocating orderly, protected habitation, it aligns kingship and civic planning with dharma—supporting stable social life where ritual duties, livelihood, and protection of subjects can be maintained.