Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 1
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे सामादिर्नाम चत्वारिंशदध्कद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ एकचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः राजनीतिः राम उवाच षड्विधन्तु बलं व्यूह्य देवान् प्रार्च्य रिपुं व्रजेत् मौलं भूतं श्रोणिसुहृद्द्विषदाटविकं बलं
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe sāmādirnāma catvāriṃśadadhkadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ekacatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ rājanītiḥ rāma uvāca ṣaḍvidhantu balaṃ vyūhya devān prārcya ripuṃ vrajet maulaṃ bhūtaṃ śroṇisuhṛddviṣadāṭavikaṃ balaṃ
अशा प्रकारे अग्नि महापुराणातील ‘सामादि’ नावाचा २४०वा अध्याय समाप्त झाला। आता २४१वा अध्याय ‘राजनीती’ आरंभ होतो। राम म्हणाले—षड्विध बल व्यूहबद्ध करून व देवांची विधिपूर्वक पूजा करून शत्रूकडे कूच करावे—मौल (वंशपरंपरागत/स्थायी), भृत (वेतनभोगी), श्रेणी (गण/निगम), सुहृत् (मित्र), द्विषद् (शत्रुपक्षातून आलेले), आणि आटविक (वन्य) बल।
Rama
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Organizing and mobilizing a king’s campaign: worship protocols before march and classification of the sixfold army components for planning logistics, loyalty, and deployment.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ṣaḍvidha-bala (Sixfold army strength) and pre-march deva-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["rajaniti","shadvidha-bala","maula-bala","mitra-bala","atavika-bala"],"quick_summary":"Statecraft defines a sixfold composition of forces (standing/hereditary, levies, allies, defectors, forest-tribal, etc.) and prescribes worship before marching, integrating dharma with operational readiness."}
Concept: Rāja-kārya (war) must be preceded by deva-pūjā and conducted with ordered, accountable force-structure.
Application: Before campaigns, perform sanctioned rites, confirm alliances, and formalize command over each contingent to reduce betrayal and disorder.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Rajaniti (Governance and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma instructs on statecraft: an army assembled in distinct contingents; priests perform worship to the gods before the march; banners and drums ready as the king prepares to advance against an enemy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Rāma as royal instructor, seated with ministers; in background, six contingents shown with distinct attire; priests performing homa/puja; disciplined camp geometry; vira mood with dharmic calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Rāma enthroned with gold halo; foreground deva-pūjā with lamps and offerings; behind, neatly arrayed troops with gilded banners; rich ornamentation emphasizing royal legitimacy.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic composition—six labeled troop groups in panels; central scene of worship before departure; clear linework and muted palette for instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court-camp hybrid scene; king and advisors, priests at ritual; diverse allied and forest troops depicted with ethnographic detail; orderly march formation beginning at the edge of the frame."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति; सामादिर्नाम = सामादिः + नाम; 'अध्यायः = अध्यायः (अकारलोप/अवग्रह); गच्छेद्व्यूहीकृतैर् (next verse) not here; प्रārcya = प्र + आर्च्य (gerund of pra-√arc).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 241 (Rājanīti: subsequent verses on power, troops, and command); Agni Purana 240 (Sāmādi: preparatory measures and stratagems)
FAQs
It teaches rājanīti technique: the king should first worship the devas and then march only after organizing the army as a sixfold force (standing troops, levies, allied/friendly contingents, defectors from the enemy, and forest/tribal auxiliaries).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft—military taxonomy (ṣaḍvidha-bala) and operational guidance (vyūha formation and campaign procedure), showing its coverage of governance and applied political science.
By placing deva-worship before warfare, the verse frames royal action as dharma-governed: success and legitimacy in conflict are tied to reverence, restraint, and righteous conduct rather than mere force.