Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 15
Yātrā-Maṇḍala-Cintā and Rājya-Rakṣaṇa: Auspicious Travel Rules and the Twelve-King Mandala
उपेतस्तु सुहृज् ज्ञेयः शत्रुमित्रमतः परं मित्रमित्रं ततो ज्ञेयं मित्रमित्ररिपुस्ततः
upetastu suhṛj jñeyaḥ śatrumitramataḥ paraṃ mitramitraṃ tato jñeyaṃ mitramitraripustataḥ
ਜੋ ਆ ਕੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਪੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਿਲ ਗਿਆ, ਉਹ ਸੁਹ੍ਰਿਦ (ਮਿੱਤਰ) ਜਾਣਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ; ਫਿਰ ‘ਵੈਰੀ ਦਾ ਮਿੱਤਰ’, ਫਿਰ ‘ਮਿੱਤਰ ਦਾ ਮਿੱਤਰ’, ਅਤੇ ਅਗੇ ‘ਮਿੱਤਰ ਦੇ ਮਿੱਤਰ ਦਾ ਵੈਰੀ’ ਸਮਝਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: Kingdom
Sandhi Resolution Notes: उपेतस्तु = उपेतः + तु; मित्रमित्ररिपुस्ततः = मित्रमित्ररिपुः + ततः.
FAQs
It imparts political-nīti: a practical taxonomy of relationship networks (ally, enemy’s ally, ally’s ally, and the opposing node) used for diplomatic strategy and risk assessment.
Alongside ritual, theology, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves applied governance knowledge—here, a structured model for mapping alliances and hostilities central to classical Indian polity.
Right discernment in alliances supports dharmic rule (rāja-dharma), reducing unjust violence and social disorder—thereby aligning political action with ethical responsibility and merit.