Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 20
Chapter 233 — Ṣāḍguṇya (The Six Measures of Royal Policy) and Foreign Daṇḍa
उदासीनो मध्यगो वा संश्रयात्संशयः स्मृतः समेन सन्धिरन्वेष्यो ऽहीनेन च बलीयसा
udāsīno madhyago vā saṃśrayātsaṃśayaḥ smṛtaḥ samena sandhiranveṣyo 'hīnena ca balīyasā
中立にとどまる者、あるいは中間に立つ者は、庇護・依託（サンシュラヤ）を求めるにあたりサンシャヤ（疑い）の状態にあると言われる。ゆえに同等の者とサンディ（同盟）を求め、もし劣る者でないなら、より強き者と結ぶべきである。
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in rajadharma/nīti)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Alliance selection rule: when neutral/undecided about refuge, choose an equal ally; if not possible, align with the stronger rather than the weaker.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Alliance Choice in Saṃśaya (Neutral/Middle Position)","lookup_keywords":["udāsīna","madhyaga","saṃśaya","saṃśraya","sama-bali"],"quick_summary":"A neutral or middle king in doubt about protection should seek alliance with an equal; failing that, with a stronger power (not an inferior)."}
Concept: In uncertainty, security comes from parity or superior protection; inferiors increase vulnerability.
Application: When hedging between powers, formalize refuge/overlordship with an equal partner or a stronger guarantor to deter aggression.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Diplomacy, Alliance-making, and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ‘middle king’ between two rival kingdoms weighs alliance offers; scales show ‘equal’ and ‘stronger’ as preferred choices; envoys stand on both sides.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central king seated with balance scale, two envoys flanking, one labeled ‘Sama’, one ‘Balīyān’, muted traditional palette and iconic symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central king with gold halo, two allied kings presented on either side, gold-embossed scale motif indicating preference for equal/stronger alliance.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diplomacy scene: council table with two treaty drafts, annotations ‘Sama’ and ‘Balīyān’, refined lines and calm composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, three courts in one frame: central neutral ruler, left and right envoys with gifts, subtle visual cue of stronger army behind one envoy, detailed textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Sri","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संश्रयात्संशयः→संश्रयात्+संशयः; सन्धिरन्वेष्यः→सन्धिः+अन्वेष्यः; अन्वेष्योऽहीनेन→अन्वेष्यः+अहीनेन
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma: mandala theory (ari, mitra, madhyama, udāsīna); Agni Purana sections on saṃśraya and sandhi
FAQs
This verse teaches political nīti: a neutral or middle-positioned ruler should resolve uncertainty by choosing a sound alliance—preferably with an equal, or otherwise with a stronger (not inferior) protector/partner.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual and mythology into practical governance—codifying diplomatic categories (neutral/middle power), refuge-seeking (saṃśraya), and treaty-choice (sandhi) as usable state policy.
By urging prudent alliance-making and avoidance of indecisive conduct, it supports dharmic kingship—reducing needless conflict and protecting subjects, which is treated as a ruler’s religious duty (rāja-dharma).