Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
युद्धयात्रा (Yuddhayātrā) — The War-Expedition
हेमन्ते शिशिरे चैव रथवाजिसमाकुलां चतुरङ्गबलोपेतां वसन्ते वा शरन्म्मुखे
hemante śiśire caiva rathavājisamākulāṃ caturaṅgabalopetāṃ vasante vā śaranmmukhe
हेमंत व शिशिर ऋतूत, किंवा वसंतात अथवा शरद्ऋतूच्या आरंभी, रथ व घोड्यांनी भरलेली आणि चतुरंग बळाने युक्त अशी सेना घेऊन प्रस्थान करावे।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Seasonal planning of royal campaigns and mobilization of the fourfold army (infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephants) to maximize logistics, morale, and battlefield advantage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ritu-nirdesha for Yatra (Campaign Season) with Chaturanga-bala","lookup_keywords":["hemanta yatra","shishira yatra","vasanta yatra","sharad prarambha","chaturanga bala"],"quick_summary":"Campaigning is recommended in cold seasons (hemanta, śiśira), or alternatively in spring or early autumn, with a fully constituted fourfold army heavy in chariots and horses."}
Weapon Type: Chariot and cavalry arms (ratha-vāji-pradhāna), supported by full chaturanga forces
Concept: Kala (season/time) as a determinant of success in human action, especially statecraft and war.
Application: Choose campaign windows aligned with environmental conditions; treat time as a strategic resource.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Military Science and Campaign Timing)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king’s army setting out in a cold-season landscape: chariots lined up, horses harnessed, infantry and elephants arranged as the fourfold force, banners raised for departure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, a royal procession departing for yatra in hemanta, chariots and horses prominent, fourfold army in orderly tiers, ornamental borders, traditional costumes and weapons.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on royal insignia and banners, central king on chariot, surrounding cavalry and infantry, stylized elephants, rich reds and greens, temple-like decorative framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, detailed linework showing chaturanga formation and equipment, annotated-feel composition with seasonal cues (cool sky, muted flora), emphasis on chariots and horses.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of harnesses and armor, panoramic camp-departure scene with chariots and cavalry in foreground, infantry ranks behind, cool-season palette, courtly realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; शरन्म्मुखे = शरद् + मुखे (द् + म → न्म्, अनुनासिक-सन्धि/परसवर्ण).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 227 (Yatra-adhyaya: campaign rules and omens); Agni Purana 228 (Svapna-adhyaya begins after this)
FAQs
It gives Dhanurvedic-royal guidance on yātrā (military expedition) timing—recommending cold seasons (hemanta/śiśira), or alternatively spring or early autumn—while specifying a properly constituted caturaṅga (fourfold) army with strong chariot and cavalry components.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves pragmatic statecraft and war-science: it records seasonal logistics and force-structure (caturaṅga-bala), showing the text’s coverage of governance, strategy, and applied knowledge alongside ritual and devotion.
As a dharma-oriented directive for kings, it frames warfare as regulated by śāstra—right timing and proper organization reduce harm and disorder, aligning royal action with rajadharma rather than impulsive violence.