Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
विश्रभ्यन्तं परानीकमप्रमत्तो विनाशयेत् अथवा गोग्रहाकृष्टं तल्लक्ष्यं मार्गबन्धनात्
viśrabhyantaṃ parānīkamapramatto vināśayet athavā gograhākṛṣṭaṃ tallakṣyaṃ mārgabandhanāt
敵の陣列が弛み油断したなら、怠りなき将はこれを滅すべし。あるいは道を遮って引き出し—牛を捕えて引きずるがごとく—その引き出した標的を討つべし。
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s Dhanurveda discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Operational tactics: destroy a slackened enemy formation or force it into exposure by route-blocking and controlled extraction, then strike.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Destroying a Slackened Formation; Drawing Out the Enemy by Route-Blocking","lookup_keywords":["paranikam vishrabhyantam","apramatta","marga-bandhana","gograha-drishṭanta","vyuha-nashana"],"quick_summary":"When the enemy array becomes careless, annihilate it swiftly. Alternatively, block routes to pull the enemy out like seized cattle, then strike the exposed target."}
Alamkara Type: Drishtanta
Concept: A vigilant mind converts terrain and timing into force-multipliers.
Application: Leadership training: cultivate apramada (non-negligence) and use environment (routes) to shape outcomes.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Military Science and Battlefield Tactics)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vigilant commander watches an enemy formation loosen; troops block mountain passes/roads, pulling the enemy out into an ambush like cattle being dragged, then striking.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized landscape with a blocked road, soldiers forming a barrier, enemy ranks loosening, cattle-seizure metaphor shown in a side vignette, strong contours and narrative clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central heroic commander with gold accents, flanking scenes of route-blocking and ambush, decorative foliage and banners, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: schematic yet artistic depiction of chokepoints and arrows showing 'marga-bandhana', enemy drawn into a kill-zone, fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed terrain with narrow roads, troops erecting barricades, enemy column being pulled forward, dynamic clash at the ambush point, intricate costumes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: parānīkamapramatto → para-anīkam + apramattaḥ; gograhākṛṣṭaṃ → go-graha-ākṛṣṭam; tallakṣyaṃ → tat + lakṣyam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda on ambush (guhya-yuddha), marga/pathyā control, and vyuha handling
FAQs
Dhanurveda tactical guidance: attack an enemy formation when it becomes lax, or use mārgabandhana (blocking routes) to force the enemy into a controllable movement and then engage the exposed target.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond theology—preserving practical statecraft and military science (battlefield maneuvers, formation-breaking, and movement-control tactics) alongside ritual and philosophical material.
Within a dharmic kingship framework, the instruction implies disciplined vigilance (apramāda) and strategic restraint—using lawful, controlled measures to neutralize threats and protect subjects, aligning warfare with rajadharma rather than reckless violence.