Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 57
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
मकरो व्यतिकीर्णश् च शेषः कुञ्जरराजिभिः मण्डलव्यूहभेदौ तु सर्वतोभद्रदुर्जयौ
makaro vyatikīrṇaś ca śeṣaḥ kuñjararājibhiḥ maṇḍalavyūhabhedau tu sarvatobhadradurjayau
‘Makara’ dan ‘Vyatikīrṇa’, demikian pula ‘Śeṣa’—disusun dengan barisan-barisan gajah. Ini adalah ragam formasi tempur jenis ‘Maṇḍala’; di antaranya ‘Sarvatobhadra’ dan ‘Durjaya’ termasyhur sukar ditaklukkan.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Selection and deployment of elephant-based maṇḍala battle arrays (Makara, Vyatikīrṇa, Śeṣa) and recognition of hard-to-break formations (Sarvatobhadra, Durjaya) for battlefield planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-vyūha variants with elephant rows: Makara, Vyatikīrṇa, Śeṣa; Sarvatobhadra and Durjaya","lookup_keywords":["Maṇḍala-vyūha","Makara vyūha","Vyatikīrṇa","Śeṣa vyūha","Sarvatobhadra"],"quick_summary":"Describes maṇḍala-type arrays structured by elephant files; highlights Sarvatobhadra and Durjaya as especially difficult to penetrate."}
Weapon Type: Elephant corps (gaja) as primary arm; supporting arms implied
Concept: Collective order (vyūha) multiplies force; structure can create ‘durjaya’ (hard-to-conquer) resilience.
Application: Prefer robust arrays when defending baggage/king; use elephant rows to anchor the formation and deter cavalry charges.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Vyūha-racana: military formations and battle arrays)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A battlefield diagram comes alive: elephants in disciplined rows forming circular maṇḍala arrays labeled Makara, Vyatikīrṇa, and Śeṣa; two especially formidable variants—Sarvatobhadra and Durjaya—shown as dense, all-sided defensive rings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized elephants in repeating rows forming circular patterns, commanders with flags, bold outlines, rhythmic composition, labels implied by gesture, dramatic yet orderly scene","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal war-camp tableau with gold accents on elephant caparisons, formation shown from elevated view, ornate borders, emphasis on ‘invincible’ defensive ring","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic overhead formation map with elephants as icons, clear labeling spaces, commanders at cardinal points, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed elephants with howdahs, panoramic battlefield with precise ranks, dust and banners, formation geometry visible from a high vantage"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: व्यतिकीर्णश् च → व्यतिकीर्णः च (विसर्ग-सन्धि); सर्वतोभद्रदुर्जयौ = सर्वतोभद्र + दुर्जय (द्वन्द्व)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda vyūha-racana chapters listing named arrays and their components (same khanda, surrounding verses)
FAQs
It imparts Dhanurveda knowledge: naming and classifying specific battle formations (vyūhas), emphasizing elephant-line deployment and identifying Maṇḍala-type variants such as Sarvatobhadra and Durjaya as especially difficult to break.
By cataloging tactical military arrays and their sub-types, it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond theology—preserving practical statecraft and battlefield science alongside ritual and dharma.
In a Purāṇic frame, disciplined, dharmic application of strategic knowledge supports righteous protection of society; the verse implicitly upholds the kṣatriya duty of defense through well-ordered (non-chaotic) conduct in war.