Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 20
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
जितमित्येव विश्वस्तं हन्यान्मन्त्रव्यपाश्रयः स्कन्धावारपुरग्रामशस्यस्वामिप्रजादिषु
jitamityeva viśvastaṃ hanyānmantravyapāśrayaḥ skandhāvārapuragrāmaśasyasvāmiprajādiṣu
जो फक्त “मी जिंकलो” असे मानून निश्चिंत व विश्वासू झाला आहे, त्याला मंत्र-नीतीचा (गुप्त उपाय व सल्ला) आश्रय घेऊन घात करावा. हे सैन्यछावणी, नगर, ग्राम, शेतपीक, स्वामी, प्रजा इत्यादी ठिकाणीही लागू आहे।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"State security and covert action: strike complacent victors using counsel, intelligence, and strategic timing across camp/city/village and economic assets.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Neutralizing the Complacent ‘I Have Won’ Enemy via Mantra (Counsel/Covert Means)","lookup_keywords":["jitam-iti vishvasta","mantra-vyapashraya","skandhavara","pura-grama","shasya-prabhu-praja"],"quick_summary":"When an adversary becomes overconfident after apparent victory, use strategic counsel and covert means to strike them in vulnerable administrative and economic zones—camp, city, village, crops, owners, and populace."}
Concept: Mantra as disciplined counsel/strategy: victory is stabilized by intelligence and timely action, not by pride.
Application: Governance: protect realm by pre-empting threats in camps, cities, villages, and food supply chains; avoid complacency after success.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Statecraft, espionage, and protection of the realm)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king and ministers confer in secrecy; agents move through camp, city gates, and fields, striking a complacent enemy who believes victory is assured.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: royal council scene with ministers (mantra), spies slipping into skandhavara and city, agrarian fields in background, bold lines and flat colors, narrative panels","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: king on throne with gold-embellished court, miniature vignettes of camp, city, village, and golden crops, covert strike implied through symbolic gestures, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic composition showing zones—camp/city/village/fields—connected by arrows of strategy, ministers advising, restrained palette and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate durbar consultation, then split-scene of night agents near tents and granaries, architectural city backdrop, meticulous textiles and faces"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jitamityeva → jitam + iti + eva; hanyānmantra... → hanyāt + mantra-vyapāśrayaḥ; skandhāvārapuragrāma... → skandhāvāra-pura-grāma-śasya-svāmi-prajā-ādiṣu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma chapters on mantra (council), gupta-upaya (secret means), and raksha (protection); Agni Purana sections on skandhavara (camp) management and danda-niti
FAQs
It teaches mantra-vyapāśraya—policy guided by ‘mantra’ (strategic counsel, confidential planning, and covert protective measures) to neutralize threats when an opponent becomes overconfident after victory.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical Rajadharma: security doctrine spanning military camps, urban and rural administration, agrarian assets, and protection of subjects—showing the Purana’s coverage of political and military governance.
Within Rajadharma, the king’s duty (dharma) includes safeguarding prajā and the realm; decisive action against destabilizing threats is framed as protective duty rather than personal cruelty when aligned with righteous rule.