Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 6
अध्यायः २८६ — गजचिकित्सा
Elephant Medicine
आयत्तं कुञ्जरैश् चैव विजयं पृथिवीक्षितां पाकलेषु च सर्वेषु कर्तव्यमनुवासनं
āyattaṃ kuñjaraiś caiva vijayaṃ pṛthivīkṣitāṃ pākaleṣu ca sarveṣu kartavyamanuvāsanaṃ
Penaklukan para penguasa bumi sungguh bergantung pada gajah perang; dan di semua perkemahan serta garnisun, disiplin dan tata-aturan (anuvāsana) wajib ditegakkan.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Statecraft lesson: maintain an effective elephant corps for conquest/defense, and enforce strict discipline across camps and garrisons to ensure operational readiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Vijaya-sadhana: gaja-bala and shibira-anushasana","lookup_keywords":["rajadharma","vijaya","kunjara-bala","shibira","anuvasana"],"quick_summary":"Royal victory is linked to the strength and management of war-elephants, while universal camp discipline (anuvasana) is mandated as a constant administrative duty."}
Weapon Type: War-elephant corps
Concept: Rajadharma as disciplined administration: power (bala) must be governed by regulation (anuvasana).
Application: Create standing orders for every camp and fort: elephant care protocols, supply audits, drills, and disciplinary codes.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, statecraft, and royal discipline)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king and commanders inspect a fortified camp: elephants in stables, soldiers in orderly ranks, rules being proclaimed and enforced.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, royal inspection of a camp with elephants and disciplined troops, stylized fort gate, authoritative gestures, rhythmic arrangement of figures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold on royal regalia and standards, king seated on throne reviewing elephant corps and camp order, ceremonial yet administrative mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional governance scene: officers reading regulations, soldiers drilling, elephants tended methodically, clean composition and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fort-camp panorama with elephants, guards, scribes recording orders, realistic architecture and uniforms, emphasis on administrative control."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kuñjaraiś caiva → kuñjaraiḥ ca eva. kartavyamanuvāsanaṃ → kartavyam anuvāsanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Rajadharma—duties of the king, danda and administration; Agni Purana: Dhanurveda—camp rules and military organization
FAQs
It conveys practical rāja-nīti: victory is strategically tied to elephant-forces, and strict discipline (anuvāsana) must be maintained across all camps and military posts.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves applied knowledge of governance and warfare—here, force-structure (elephants) and administrative control in camps—showing its wide, encyclopedic scope.
Upholding disciplined order in the king’s domain is treated as dharma: it supports protection of subjects and stability of society, aligning royal action with righteous governance rather than chaotic violence.