Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 56
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
रिपूणां भयदं युद्धेनात्रकार्या विचारणा मानो महान्त इत्य् एवं बालानां शान्तिकारकं
ripūṇāṃ bhayadaṃ yuddhenātrakāryā vicāraṇā māno mahānta ity evaṃ bālānāṃ śāntikārakaṃ
ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಯುದ್ಧದ ಕುರಿತು ವಿಚಾರಣೆ ಮಾಡಬಾರದು; ಅದು ಶತ್ರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಭಯಕಾರಣವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. “ನನ್ನ ಮಾನ ಮಹಾನ್” ಎಂದು ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳುವುದು ಬಾಲಬುದ್ಧಿಯವರನ್ನು ಶಮನಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಉಪಾಯ.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing a sage-listener (commonly Vasiṣṭha in the frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Statecraft counsel: use the posture of honor and confidence as a pacification tool for the immature, while maintaining a war-ready deterrent that instills fear in enemies.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Dandanīti counsel: deterrence and pacification through māna (honor) posture","lookup_keywords":["ripūṇām bhayadam","yuddha-vicāraṇā","māna","śānti-kāraka","dandanīti"],"quick_summary":"War-readiness functions as deterrence (fear to enemies), while a deliberate display of ‘great honor’ can pacify the childish/immature—an applied psychology of governance."}
Concept: Measured use of daṇḍa and śānti: firmness toward foes, calming guidance toward the immature; honor (māna) as a social instrument.
Application: In counsel and diplomacy, maintain credible strength while using dignified speech to settle impulsive factions or inexperienced allies.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Dandaniti (Governance, counsel, and pacification measures)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in council: ministers urge action; the king’s poised, honorable stance calms youthful princes while soldiers stand ready, signaling deterrence to enemies.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal court with king seated upright, hand raised in calming gesture toward young princes, background shows disciplined troops and banners implying deterrence; rich reds/ochres, stylized faces.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king with gold-embellished throne, ministers at sides, youthful figures pacified by the king’s dignified ‘māna’; gold work on crown and court ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic court scene with labeled roles (king, ministers, young princes), balanced composition emphasizing calm governance and readiness; soft palette and fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intricate durbar scene with expressive faces: confident king, anxious youths soothed, guards with spears at attention; architectural detail and marginal notes on policy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yuddhena atra → yuddhenātra; iti evam → ity evaṃ
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Dandanīti passages on sāma-dāna-bheda-daṇḍa; Agni Purana sections on kingly conduct and counsel (mantri-dharma)
FAQs
It imparts practical niti (statecraft): war functions as deterrence (bhaya) for enemies, while verbal assertion of honor can pacify or manage the immature without escalating conflict.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves Rajadharma—policy, counsel, and conflict-management—showing it as a multi-domain manual covering governance and human behavior.
It emphasizes restraint and discernment: using deterrence and calming speech to avoid needless violence supports dharmic rule and reduces harmful karma arising from impulsive warfare.