Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 12
Chapter 233 — Ṣāḍguṇya (The Six Measures of Royal Policy) and Foreign Daṇḍa
देवतानां प्रसादश् च कीर्तनीयः परस्य तु आगतन्नो ऽमित्रबलं प्रहरध्वमभीतवत्
devatānāṃ prasādaś ca kīrtanīyaḥ parasya tu āgatanno 'mitrabalaṃ praharadhvamabhītavat
ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਮ ਦੀ ਅਨੁਗ੍ਰਹ ਦਾ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ; ਜਦੋਂ ਵੈਰੀ-ਬਲ ਸਾਡੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਆ ਪਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਨਿਡਰ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਵੈਰੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਉੱਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਹਾਰ ਕਰੋ।
Lord Agni (teaching Dhanurveda principles in the Agni Purana narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Battlefield morale-management: invoke divine favor publicly and issue a fearless charge order at the moment of enemy contact.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daiva-prasāda-kīrtana and Abhīta-prāhāra (Fearless Strike)","lookup_keywords":["devatā-prasāda","abhīta","prāhāra","amitra-bala","raṇa-ājñā"],"quick_summary":"Before and during engagement, publicly proclaim divine support to steady troops; when the enemy host arrives, command an immediate fearless assault."}
Concept: Daiva-anugraha as a source of kṣātra-bala (royal/martial strength) and fearlessness in righteous battle.
Application: Leaders cultivate confidence by framing action as dharmically and divinely supported, reducing panic at first contact.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science and Battle Exhortations)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king and commander before the front line, raising a hand in proclamation of the gods’ favor as the enemy host approaches; troops surge forward fearlessly.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, frontal heroic king with raised hand, divine aura above (symbolic devas), disciplined fourfold troops behind, approaching enemy silhouettes, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed king on chariot, commander proclaiming devatā-prasāda, richly ornamented soldiers, stylized battlefield, embossed gold highlights on weapons and banners","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, instructional composition showing commander’s proclamation gesture and troops responding in formation, labeled banners, restrained palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed battlefield panorama, king addressing troops, calligraphic caption of proclamation, dense ranks, realistic horses and armor, dust clouds at enemy arrival"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prasādaś ca = prasādaḥ + ca; āgatanno = āgataṃ + naḥ; 'mitrabalaṃ = amitra-balam (a- initial after avagraha); praharadhvamabhītavat = praharadhvam + abhītavat.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections on senā-utsāha (troop morale) and raṇa-vidhi (battle procedure); Agni Purana Rajadharma passages on daiva and rāja-tejas
FAQs
It teaches a Dhanurveda-style battlefield injunction: invoke and proclaim divine favor to strengthen morale, then engage the approaching enemy force with fearless decisive action.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and war-science: concise operational commands (morale, invocation, engagement) typical of a military manual embedded in a Purana.
Remembering and proclaiming the gods’ grace frames combat as disciplined duty rather than panic or cruelty, cultivating courage and steadiness while aligning action with dharma and divine protection.