Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 53
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
परिवेशयेदिति ख तथैव सुप्रवर्तनमिति ज , ट च विशेषेणोपनिषिद्योगैर् हन्याच्छस्त्रादिना द्विषः जातिमात्रं द्विजं नैव हन्यात् सामोत्तरं वशे
pariveśayediti kha tathaiva supravartanamiti ja , ṭa ca viśeṣeṇopaniṣidyogair hanyācchastrādinā dviṣaḥ jātimātraṃ dvijaṃ naiva hanyāt sāmottaraṃ vaśe
‘ପରିବେଶୟେତ୍’—ଏହା ଖ-ପାଠ; ଏବଂ ‘ସୁପ୍ରବର୍ତ୍ତନମ୍’—ଜ ଓ ଟ ପାଠରେ ଅଛି। ବିଶେଷତଃ ଗୁପ୍ତ/କୌଶଳମୟ ଉପାୟ ଲାଗୁ କରି ଶସ୍ତ୍ରାଦି ଦ୍ୱାରା ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିହତ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। କିନ୍ତୁ କେବଳ ଜନ୍ମ ଆଧାରରେ ଦ୍ୱିଜ (ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ)କୁ କେବେ ହତ୍ୟା କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ; ସାମ ଓ ଯଥୋଚିତ ପ୍ରତିଦାନ/ସମ୍ମତି ଦ୍ୱାରା ତାକୁ ବଶ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"शत्रु-निग्रह में घेराबन्दी/सुप्रवर्तन जैसी सैन्य-चालें और गुप्त-उपाय; परन्तु ब्राह्मण-वध निषिद्ध—उसे साम/समाधान से वश में करना।","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"परिवेषण-नीति, सुप्रवर्तन, उपनिषद्योग (secret methods) और ब्राह्मण-अवध्यता","lookup_keywords":["परिवेशयेत्","सुप्रवर्तन","उपनिषद्योग","द्विष्-हनन","ब्राह्मण-अवध्य"],"quick_summary":"पाठान्तरों सहित यह नीति बताती है कि शत्रु को घेरकर/बल को सुव्यवस्थित अग्रसर कर, विशेषतः गुप्त-उपायों से शस्त्रादि द्वारा दमन करें; किन्तु जन्ममात्र से ब्राह्मण का वध न करें—साम और उचित प्रतिदान/समझौते से नियंत्रण करें।"}
Weapon Type: शस्त्र (generic: sword/spear/bow implied)
Concept: दण्ड का धर्म-संयम: शत्रु-दमन आवश्यक, पर वर्ण-धर्म/अवध्यता और साम-नीति का पालन।
Application: राज्य-बल प्रयोग में ‘rules of engagement’—लक्षित शत्रु पर कार्रवाई, संरक्षित वर्ग/धार्मिक मर्यादा का उल्लंघन न करना; विवाद-निपटान में समझौता/प्रतिदान।
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dandaniti (Governance, law, and statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"सेनापति राजा को घेराबन्दी और सुव्यवस्थित अग्रसरता की योजना समझाता है; एक ओर शत्रु पर शस्त्र-प्रहार, दूसरी ओर ब्राह्मण-वेशधारी विरोधी को साम/समझौते से शांत किया जा रहा है।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, battlefield planning with king and commander, circular encirclement formation shown symbolically, covert agents in shadows, a brahmin figure spared and approached with conciliatory gesture, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king with gold-embellished armor, miniature encirclement diagram motif, weapons displayed, brahmin adversary offered a settlement scroll and gifts, rich gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic military diagram-like scene, troops forming ring, arrows/spears indicated, side panel showing sāma (soft speech) and counter-offer, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed troop movement around enemy camp, spies in disguise, separate vignette of negotiation with a brahmin scholar, fine architectural tents and landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विशेषेणोपनिषिद्योगैर् = विशेषेण उपनिषद्-योगैः; हन्याच्छस्त्रादिना = हन्यात् शस्त्र-आदिना; लोकद्विष्टान् इत्यादिवत् अत्र ‘ख/ज/ट’ पाठ-चिह्नाः (अनुक्रम-संकेताः) इति गृहीताः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 240 (साम-दाम-भेद-दण्ड के नीति-सूत्र)
FAQs
It teaches rāja-nīti tactics: encirclement/cordon, coordinated advance, and the use of covert strategic methods (upaniṣid-yoga) to neutralize enemies, while prescribing limits and alternatives in punishment.
It exemplifies the text’s statecraft layer—mixing military tactics, intelligence/stratagems, and juridical-ethical constraints—showing that the Agni Purana compiles practical governance doctrine alongside religious material.
It frames punishment within dharma: even in conflict, indiscriminate violence—especially against a brāhmaṇa “by birth alone”—is condemned, urging restraint and dharmic resolution through conciliation and settlement to avoid grave demerit.