Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 24
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
सस्तम्भयति मित्राणि अमित्रं नाशयत्यपि धनाद्यैर् उपकारित्वं मित्रात्तद्व्यसनाद्धरेत्
sastambhayati mitrāṇi amitraṃ nāśayatyapi dhanādyair upakāritvaṃ mitrāttadvyasanāddharet
Богатством и подобными средствами следует укреплять союзников и вместе с тем уничтожать врага; дарами и прочим обеспечивают полезную помощь союзника и спасают союзника от его бедствия.
Lord Agni (instructing Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma/nīti section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Alliance management: use wealth, gifts, and assistance to stabilize allies, incentivize cooperation, and strategically weaken enemies; includes crisis-support for allies.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mitra-stambhana by Dhana (Stabilizing Allies through Wealth)","lookup_keywords":["mitra","dāna","dhanādyaiḥ","alliance management","upakāra"],"quick_summary":"Use resources and benefactions to keep allies steadfast and useful, and to counter enemies; also support allies in distress to preserve the alliance network."}
Concept: Reciprocity and patronage as instruments of political dharma: sustaining relationships through timely aid and generosity.
Application: Maintain an alliance fund, deploy targeted gifts, and provide relief during an ally’s crisis to prevent defection.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (statecraft, diplomacy, and conduct of allies and enemies)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king presents gifts—gold, garments, elephants—to an allied ruler; scribes record treaties; in the background, enemy camps weaken as supply lines falter.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two crowned kings in alliance, exchange of gifts and garlands, attendants carrying gold and cloth, stylized enemy figures fading in the distance, ornate border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gift-giving diplomacy with gold-leaf on ornaments and treasure, richly patterned textiles, symmetrical composition of allied rulers and attendants","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diplomacy scene: labeled ‘dāna’, ‘upakāra’, ‘mitra-stambhana’, fine linework, calm faces, clear narrative sequencing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, treaty meeting in a garden pavilion, detailed gift trays, scribes with documents, subtle depiction of enemy camp suffering shortages, refined naturalism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सस्तम्भयति → सः स्तम्भयति; नाशयत्यपि → नाशयति अपि; धनाद्यैर् → धनाद्यैः; मित्रात्तद्व्यसनाद्धरेत् → मित्रात् तत् व्यसनात् हरेत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rājadharma/Nīti sections on sāma-dāna-bheda-daṇḍa and mitra-lakṣaṇa
FAQs
It teaches alliance-management in rajadharma: use resources (dhanādi) to keep allies loyal and operational, while actively countering enemies; additionally, protect allies by relieving them in times of crisis.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied governance (nīti/rajadharma), giving actionable guidance on diplomacy, coalition stability, and strategic use of wealth—hallmarks of its wide-ranging, encyclopedic scope.
Supporting allies in distress and using wealth for protective, duty-aligned purposes is framed as righteous kingship (dharma), promoting social order and reducing harm—thereby accruing merit through responsible rule.