Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Ṣāḍguṇya — The Six Measures of Foreign Policy
with Rāja-maṇḍala Theory
अनुग्रहे संहतयोर् निग्रहे व्यस्तयोः प्रभुः मण्डलाद्वहिरेतेषामुदासीनो बलाधिकः
anugrahe saṃhatayor nigrahe vyastayoḥ prabhuḥ maṇḍalādvahireteṣāmudāsīno balādhikaḥ
അനുഗ്രഹം ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ അധിപൻ ഏകീകൃതരായവരോടു പെരുമാറണം; നിഗ്രഹം/ദണ്ഡത്തിൽ വിഭക്തരായവരോടു. രാജ്യമണ്ഡലത്തിന് പുറത്തുനിൽക്കുന്ന ഉദാസീന രാജാവ് ബലത്തിൽ അവരെ മറികടക്കും.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Mandala-niti decision rule: when to support allies (united blocs) and when to punish/pressure opponents (divided factions); assess the 'udāsīna' (neutral) power outside the immediate circle as a potential balancer.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Mandala Rule: Favor the United, Restrain the Divided; Strength of the Udāsīna","lookup_keywords":["mandala","udāsīna rāja","saṃhata-vyasta","anugraha-nigraha","balādhikya"],"quick_summary":"In alliance-management, reward cohesive coalitions and exploit divisions when applying coercion. The neutral king outside the circle often holds superior leverage and must be factored into strategy."}
Concept: Rāja-dharma as pragmatic protection of the realm through calibrated favor (anugraha) and restraint (nigraha) within the mandala.
Application: Map neighboring states into mandala roles; treat blocs and factions differently; anticipate intervention by an external neutral power.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Statecraft, Mandala theory, diplomacy and governance)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: niti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal council studies a circular mandala map of neighboring kings: a united allied bloc on one side, a divided enemy camp on another, and a powerful neutral king beyond the circle observing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, flat vivid colors, ornate palace interior, king with ministers around a mandala diagram on palm-leaf, allied kings shown clasping hands (saṃhata), enemies shown separated (vyasta), neutral king outside the ring, traditional jewelry and textiles","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on throne and court ornaments, central sovereign pointing to a mandala chart, allied united group with golden halos, divided enemy figures in separate panels, neutral king outside border with larger aura indicating strength","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework and soft shading, instructional composition with labeled mandala circle, arrows for anugraha and nigraha, neutral king placed outside circle with larger retinue, calm didactic court scene","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court atelier, emperor and wazirs over a painted map, distinct costumes for allied and enemy factions, neutral ruler depicted beyond the map frame with larger army camp, intricate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संहतयोर्→संहतयोः (रेफ्-सन्धि); मण्डलाद्वहिरेतेषामुदासीनो→मण्डलात् बहिः एतेषाम् उदासीनः; बलाधिकः = बल+अधिक (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma/Nīti sections on mandala, ṣāḍguṇya, sandhi-vigraha
FAQs
It imparts mandala-nīti: a practical rule of diplomacy—support consolidated allies (saṃhata) and check fragmented opponents (vyasta), while recognizing the strategic weight of the neutral (udāsīna) power outside the immediate mandala.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied political science: alliance-management, coercive policy, and the mandala model of inter-state relations—showing its wide scope across governance, strategy, and public order.
It frames kingship as dharmic stewardship: wise favour and measured punishment reduce disorder and violence, supporting loka-saṅgraha (social stability), which is treated as a meritorious duty of rulers in Rajadharma.