Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Chapter 233 — Ṣāḍguṇya (The Six Measures of Royal Policy) and Foreign Daṇḍa
देवाज्ञावृंहितो राजा सन्नद्धः समरं प्रति इन्द्रजालं प्रवक्ष्यामि इन्द्रं कालेन दर्शयेत्
devājñāvṛṃhito rājā sannaddhaḥ samaraṃ prati indrajālaṃ pravakṣyāmi indraṃ kālena darśayet
O rei, fortalecido pelo mandamento dos deuses e armado para a batalha, avança para o combate. Agora ensinarei o Indrajāla (arte das ilusões de guerra); no tempo oportuno, deve-se fazer Indra tornar-se visível.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, continuing the encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Indrajāla (war-illusion) techniques to influence perception on the battlefield, including staged ‘divine epiphany’ to inspire allies and terrify foes.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Indrajāla in War: Timed Display of Indra","lookup_keywords":["indrajāla","indra-darśana","daivājñā","sannaddha-rājā","samara"],"quick_summary":"A king, empowered by divine sanction and fully armed, may employ indrajāla—illusionary stratagems—timing a visible ‘Indra’ manifestation to sway morale and outcomes."}
Concept: Kāla (right timing) and daiva (divine sanction) amplify human effort; perception can be engineered as part of righteous strategy.
Application: Leaders coordinate ritual-symbolic displays with tactical moments to maximize psychological impact.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda / Indrajala (Military Stratagems and Illusion-arts)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An armored king advances to battle while a radiant Indra apparition is revealed at the decisive moment—light, banners, and illusion devices shaping the battlefield’s perception.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, luminous Indra appearing in the sky with stylized lightning, king in ornate armor below, illusionists with banners and smoke, dramatic contrast colors, sacred aura motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central golden Indra with heavy gold work and halo, king and army beneath, rich jewel tones, embossed ornaments on armor and banners, theatrical revelation composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear staged scene: king armored, assistants operating screens/standards/lamps to create ‘Indra’ visibility, annotated feel, balanced palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, sophisticated courtly battlefield with special-effects staging, Indra apparition in cloud band, meticulous armor detail, observers reacting in awe"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: devājñāvṛṃhito = deva-ājñā-vṛṃhitaḥ (compound + visarga loss in continuous text).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Indrajāla/ māyā-related sections within Dhanurveda khanda; Agni Purana mantra/yantra discussions where applicable
FAQs
It introduces Indrajāla—battlefield illusion and psychological tactics—stressing correct timing (kāla) to display an Indra-like manifestation to influence morale and perception in war.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves applied statecraft and military sciences; this verse signals a shift into technical instruction on strategic deception within Dhanurveda-style material.
By framing victory as aligned with deva-ājñā (divine mandate) and kāla (right timing), the verse presents kingship and warfare as actions ideally regulated by dharma, not mere aggression—implying merit in disciplined, duty-bound conduct.