Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 58
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
शान्ते निद्राभिभूते च अर्धोत्तीर्णे नदीवने दुर्दिने कूटयुद्धानि शत्रुनाशार्थमाचरेत्
śānte nidrābhibhūte ca ardhottīrṇe nadīvane durdine kūṭayuddhāni śatrunāśārthamācaret
ਜਦੋਂ (ਸ਼ਤਰੂ) ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿੰਤ ਹੋਵੇ, ਨੀਂਦ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਰਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ, ਦਰਿਆ ਪਾਰ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਅੱਧ ਵਿਚ ਹੋਵੇ, ਦਰਿਆ-ਕੰਢੇ ਦੇ ਜੰਗਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਮਾੜੇ ਮੌਸਮ ਦੇ ਦਿਨ ਹੋਣ—ਤਦ ਸ਼ਤਰੂ-ਨਾਸ ਲਈ ਕੂਟ/ਗੁਪਤ ਯੁੱਧ ਦੇ ਢੰਗ ਵਰਤਣੇ ਚਾਹੀਦੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Operational guidance for exploiting enemy vulnerability (sleep, river-crossing, terrain, weather) via kूटयुद्ध (covert/irregular tactics) to achieve decisive advantage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kūṭayuddha Windows: Sleep, River-Crossing, Terrain, and Bad Weather","lookup_keywords":["kūṭayuddha","nidra","nadī-uttaraṇa","vana","durdina"],"quick_summary":"Irregular/covert warfare is advised when the enemy is relaxed, asleep, mid-crossing a river, in riverine woodland, or during foul weather. The practical point is timing and terrain-based advantage to destroy hostile forces."}
Concept: Pragmatic statecraft: victory often depends on timing, intelligence, and exploiting situational weakness rather than open contest alone.
Application: Plan operations around enemy fatigue cycles, chokepoints (fords), and weather; prioritize reconnaissance and mobility.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda / Niti-shastra (Military stratagems and covert warfare)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: River/Forest (generic)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A covert strike: enemy camp asleep; another vignette shows troops caught mid-river crossing; dense riverine forest and stormy skies indicate concealment and foul weather tactics.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split-panel narrative—night camp with sleeping soldiers, shadowy attackers; river crossing with half-submerged troops; dark monsoon clouds, stylized trees and water patterns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: dramatic central scene of river crossing under storm clouds, attackers emerging from forest, gold accents on weapons and rippling water borders, strong icon-like clarity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: tactical illustration—scouts pointing to ford, troops moving through woodland, weather cues (rain lines), emphasis on planning and formation in low visibility.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: nocturnal raid with lantern glow, detailed river ford with horses/elephants, rain-washed palette, fine foliage and topographic realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shivaranjani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्धोत्तीर्णे = अर्ध + उत्तीर्णे (o-sandhi). शत्रुनाशार्थमाचरेत् = शत्रुनाशार्थम् + आचरेत् (म् + आ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 235 (stratagems and conduct in war)
FAQs
It imparts Dhanurvedic/Nīti guidance on kūṭayuddha—using stratagems and timing (sleep, complacency, river-crossing vulnerability, river-forest terrain, foul weather) to neutralize an enemy.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves pragmatic statecraft and military doctrine—here, operational conditions for ambush and irregular tactics—illustrating its wide scope across governance and war-science.
Within a rajadharma frame, it treats victory as a duty of protection and polity; the verse emphasizes effective means over ceremonial combat, implying that safeguarding the realm may justify stratagem-based action when strategically necessary.