Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 48
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
रथाभावे तु द्विरदान् व्यूहे सर्वत्र दापयेत् यदि स्याद्दण्डबाहुल्यमाबाधः सम्प्रकीर्तितः
rathābhāve tu dviradān vyūhe sarvatra dāpayet yadi syāddaṇḍabāhulyamābādhaḥ samprakīrtitaḥ
Se faltarem carros, então na formação devem-se dispor elefantes por toda parte em seu lugar. Se houver excesso de soldados de infantaria, isso é declarado “ābādha”, isto é, um peso/impedimento para a formação.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Contingency planning for missing chariots by substituting elephants; recognizing overconcentration of infantry as a formation-impediment and adjusting force composition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Contingency substitution (elephants for chariots) and the ‘ābādha’ of excess infantry","lookup_keywords":["rathābhāva","dvirada","sarvatra-vyūha","daṇḍa-bāhulya","ābādha"],"quick_summary":"When chariots are unavailable, elephants may be deployed broadly in their stead. An overabundance of foot-soldiers is termed ābādha—an impediment that clogs maneuver and weakens formation performance."}
Weapon Type: Elephants (dvirada), infantry (daṇḍa/padāti), chariots (ratha) as absent resource
Concept: Doctrine must account for scarcity and friction; imbalance in components creates systemic impediment.
Application: Assess force mix before engagement; substitute intelligently when an arm is missing; avoid overcrowding infantry that blocks mobility and command.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Military Science / Battle-Array Formations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A battlefield formation adjusted for lack of chariots: elephants occupy multiple sectors as substitutes; a dense mass of infantry is shown clogging lanes, illustrating ‘ābādha’ (impediment).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: repeated elephants across the array replacing chariot icons; congested infantry block depicted as tightly packed spearmen; clear geometric lanes showing obstruction; bold outlines and flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: elephant-dominant formation with gold-highlighted caparisons; infantry crowding rendered as dense patterned rows; decorative border framing a ‘contingency doctrine’ scene.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional plate contrasting two layouts—(1) elephants substituted for chariots, (2) infantry over-density marked as ābādha; arrows and spacing lines; clean manuscript style.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: numerous elephants deployed across the field; infantry packed too tightly causing disorder; commanders attempting to open corridors; detailed realism with dust and movement."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याद्दण्डबाहुल्यमाबाधः = स्यात् + दण्डबाहुल्यम् + आबाधः (त् + द → द्द; म् + आ → मा).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 241 (mixed-arms deployment; substitutions; defects in vyūha)
FAQs
This verse teaches Dhanurveda logistics within a vyūha: substitute elephants for missing chariots, and recognize that an overconcentration of infantry can hinder effective formation function.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied statecraft and military science—here, practical rules for battlefield resource substitution (ratha vs. dvirada) and force-composition management (daṇḍa-bāhulya as ābādha).
The passage is primarily pragmatic rather than devotional: it frames disciplined, well-ordered action (right arrangement and avoidance of impediments) as the dharmic standard for a ruler’s conduct in protection and governance.