Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 15
Sahāya-sampattiḥ (Securing Support/Allies): Royal Appointments, Court Offices, Spies, and Personnel Ethics
समन्त्रो च यथान्यायात् कुर्याद्धस्तिवनेचरान् तत्पदान्वेषणे यत्तानध्यक्षांस्तत्र कारयेत्
samantro ca yathānyāyāt kuryāddhastivanecarān tatpadānveṣaṇe yattānadhyakṣāṃstatra kārayet
समन्त्रः सन् यथान्यायं हस्तिवनेचरान् नियोजयेत्; तत्पदान्वेषणे च तत्र तान् अध्यक्षान् कारयेत्।
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Organizing lawful search-and-tracking operations using specialized forest/elephant personnel under supervised command, with sanctioned mantras/authorizations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hastivana-cara-vyavasthā (Elephant-forester deployment) and Padānveṣaṇa (Tracking)","lookup_keywords":["hastivana-cara","padānveṣaṇa","adhyakṣa","samantreṇa","vyavahāra"],"quick_summary":"Deploy trained elephant-forest trackers under proper legal protocol and authorized mantras; appoint supervisors to manage footprint-tracking and field operations."}
Weapon Type: Spear
Concept: State power must be exercised through rule-bound procedure, specialization, and accountable supervision.
Application: Use chain-of-command, legal warrants/protocols, and field supervisors for searches and pursuits.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Daṇḍanīti (Governance, policing, and statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A supervised tracking party in a dense forest: elephant-foresters examine footprints, mark trails, and report to an overseeing officer while reciting sanctioned mantras/commands.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: lush green-brown forest, trackers with staffs and leaf bundles, an officer with insignia, stylized footprints on the ground, rhythmic composition, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central supervisor with gold detailing, attendants pointing to footprints, symbolic elephant motifs, decorative foliage, strong frontal figures with gilded accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional depiction—close-up of footprints, trackers demonstrating signs, supervisor holding a tablet/scroll, delicate shading and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: naturalistic forest scene with detailed flora, trackers crouching to inspect prints, officer on horseback/elephant at a distance, fine perspective and documentary realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समन्त्रो = स + मन्त्रः (कर्मधारय); यथान्यायात् = यथा + न्यायात् (अव्ययीभाव/अव्ययवत् प्रयोग); कुर्याद्धस्ति- = कुर्यात् + हस्ति-; तत्पदान्वेषणे = तत् + पद + अन्वेषणे; यत्तानध्यक्षान् = यत् + तान् + अध्यक्षान्; अध्यक्षांस्तत्र = अध्यक्षान् + तत्र
Related Themes: Agni Purana 220 (Daṇḍanīti operational measures)
FAQs
It teaches a combined dharma-legal and ritual protocol: deploying specialized forest/elephant trackers for footprint-tracing, accompanied by mantras, and placing appointed supervisors (adhyakṣas) to manage the search operation.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical administrative know-how—how a state organizes mantric procedure, field personnel (trackers), and oversight (adhyakṣas) during searches—showing the Purana’s coverage of governance and security alongside ritual culture.
By insisting on yathā-nyāya (proper procedure) and mantra-guided action, the verse frames enforcement as dharmic duty—reducing arbitrariness and aligning state action with righteous order, which is presented as merit-bearing and socially purifying.