Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
आभ्यां पार्श्वाभिघातौ तु व्याख्यातौ कूटयोधने पुरस्ताद्विषमे देशे पश्चाद्धन्यात्तु वेगवान्
ābhyāṃ pārśvābhighātau tu vyākhyātau kūṭayodhane purastādviṣame deśe paścāddhanyāttu vegavān
ໃນວິຊາການຮົບແບບລວງລໍ້ (kūṭa-yodhana) ການໂຈມຕີດ້ານຂ້າງທັງສອງນີ້ໄດ້ຖືກອະທິບາຍແລ້ວ. ໃນພື້ນທີ່ຂຸລຂະ ນັກຮົບຜູ້ວ່ອງໄວຄວນໂຈມຕີຈາກດ້ານໜ້າກ່ອນ ແລ້ວຈຶ່ງຕີຈາກດ້ານຫຼັງດ້ວຍກໍາລັງ.
Lord Agni (teaching as narrator of Agni Purana, addressing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Dhanurveda sequence)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Close-combat/field tactics in kūṭayuddha: lateral strikes and sequencing attacks based on terrain unevenness; prioritize front engagement then rear strike by a swift fighter.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kūṭayodhana: Pārśvābhighāta and Viṣama-deśa Krama","lookup_keywords":["kūṭayodhana","pārśvābhighāta","viṣama-deśa","vegavān","krama"],"quick_summary":"Defines two lateral-strike methods within deceptive fighting and prescribes that on uneven ground the swift combatant should engage from the front first, then deliver a forceful rear strike."}
Concept: Adaptation to deśa (terrain) and use of indirect methods (kūṭa) are legitimate arts of protection when aligned with strategic necessity.
Application: Risk management: adjust method to environment; use misdirection and angles rather than head-on force in constrained settings.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian military science: wrestling/close-combat stratagems)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: Mountain/Forest terrain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On rocky uneven ground, a swift warrior fixes the opponent with a frontal engagement, then darts to the side for a lateral strike and circles behind for a rear blow—depicting kūṭayodhana footwork.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, rugged terrain stylized with angular rocks, warrior shown in sequential poses (front then side then rear), strong contour lines, minimal depth, emphasis on movement arcs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heroic warrior with ornate weapons and gold accents, rocky terrain as decorative motif, narrative sequence implied by repeated figure positions, rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional choreography: arrows indicating movement from front to flank to rear, fine detailing of stance and foot placement on uneven ground.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed hillside skirmish, agile fighter repositioning, opponent off-balance on slope, realistic terrain textures and dynamic diagonals."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"martial","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पार्श्वाभिघातौ = पार्श्व + अभिघातौ; पुरस्ताद्विषमे = पुरस्तात् + विषमे; पश्चाद्धन्यात् = पश्चात् + हन्यात्; हन्यात्तु = हन्यात् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 241.15–241.16 (front/rear tactics and inducing confusion); Agni Purana 241.18 (front/rear/flank engagement in uneven terrain)
FAQs
It teaches a Dhanurveda tactic from kūṭa-yodhana: using two lateral strike-patterns and exploiting uneven terrain by initiating from the front and then delivering a decisive rear strike.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical technical disciplines like Dhanurveda—here, concrete battlefield movement and striking strategy—showing its broad, handbook-like scope.
The verse is primarily pragmatic rather than devotional; its implied dharmic frame is that a kṣatriya or trained protector should apply skill and situational awareness to prevail in conflict and safeguard order.