Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 60
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
सेनानीर्निहताश्चायं भूपतिश्चापि विप्लुतः विद्रुतानान्तु योधानां मुखं घातो विधीयते
senānīrnihatāścāyaṃ bhūpatiścāpi viplutaḥ vidrutānāntu yodhānāṃ mukhaṃ ghāto vidhīyate
ពេលមេបញ្ជាការត្រូវសម្លាប់ ហើយព្រះមហាក្សត្រត្រូវរំខានវឹកវរ នោះចំពោះយោធាដែលកំពុងរត់គេច ត្រូវកំណត់ឲ្យវាយពីមុខ (វាយត្រង់មុខ/ខាងមុខ)។
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Battlefield discipline: preventing rout after loss of leadership by enforcing immediate front-line coercion to stop fleeing troops and restore formation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rout-control when commander/king falls","lookup_keywords":["senani-nidhana","bhupati-viplava","vidruta-yodha","mukha-ghata","rout-control"],"quick_summary":"If leadership collapses and troops flee, the text prescribes a direct frontal strike to halt flight and reassert discipline. It is a coercive anti-panic measure to stabilize the line."}
Concept: Collective duty in war: individual fear is subordinated to protection of the host and kingdom.
Application: Codifies harsh but utilitarian measures to prevent mass casualties and defeat caused by rout.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda / Niti (Military discipline and battlefield procedure)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A battlefield in disarray: the commander fallen, the king shaken, soldiers turning to flee while a stern officer blocks them and strikes from the front to force them back into line.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style battlefield tableau, flat vibrant colors, stylized armor and banners, fallen senapati in foreground, disciplined officer confronting fleeing soldiers with a frontal blow, dramatic but orderly composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting interpretation of a war-camp discipline scene, rich ornamented costumes, gold-leaf highlights on armor and standards, central stern officer stopping fleeing troops, symbolic depiction of fallen commander","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with fine linework showing tactical moment: routed soldiers, officer enforcing discipline at the front, clear spatial arrangement of ranks and standards, muted regal palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature battlefield vignette, detailed faces showing fear and stern resolve, horses and infantry in tight composition, commander fallen, officer striking a fleeing soldier from the front, dust and motion rendered delicately"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सेनानीर्निहताश्चायम् = सेनानीः निहतः च अयम्; भूपतिश्चापि = भूपतिः च अपि; विद्रुतानान्तु = विद्रुतानाम् तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections on vyuha (battle arrays) and senapati-dharma; Agni Purana Rajadharma/Niti passages on army discipline
FAQs
It gives a Dhanurveda/Niti rule of battlefield control: when leadership collapses (commander slain, king unsettled), the prescribed tactical response is to strike the fleeing troops from the front to check their flight and restore order.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana compiles practical statecraft and war-science. This verse is a compact procedural maxim on troop-management under crisis, illustrating its coverage of governance and military discipline alongside ritual and doctrine.
By framing battlefield conduct as 'vidhi' (a rule), it implies that even warfare should follow regulated duty (dharma) rather than panic or lawlessness—reducing adharma born from disorder and protecting the polity through disciplined action.