Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Chapter 233 — Ṣāḍguṇya (The Six Measures of Royal Policy) and Foreign Daṇḍa
सन्धिश् च विग्रहश् चैव यानमासनमेव च द्वैधीभावः संशयश् च षड्गुणाः परिकीर्तिताः
sandhiś ca vigrahaś caiva yānamāsanameva ca dvaidhībhāvaḥ saṃśayaś ca ṣaḍguṇāḥ parikīrtitāḥ
सन्धिः विग्रहश्च, यानम् आसनमेव च, द्वैधीभावः संशयश्च—इति राजधर्मे षड्गुणाः परिकीर्तिताः।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Framework for a ruler’s foreign-policy decision-making: choose among peace, war, march, halt, dual policy, or strategic reserve based on relative power and timing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṣāḍguṇya (Six Measures of Royal Policy)","lookup_keywords":["ṣāḍguṇya","sandhi","vigraha","yāna-āsana","dvaidhībhāva"],"quick_summary":"Royal policy is classically organized into six options—peace, war, expedition, remaining stationed, dual policy, and strategic reserve—used situationally against other kings."}
Concept: Rāja-nīti is governed by situational choice among enumerated policy-measures rather than a single fixed stance.
Application: Use the sixfold grid to evaluate options before committing resources or making promises.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Statecraft and Foreign Policy / Mandala-niti)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in council with ministers, a mandala-map of neighboring states, and six labeled policy tablets: sandhi, vigraha, yāna, āsana, dvaidhībhāva, saṃśaya.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, royal court interior, king with ministers around a palm-leaf mandala diagram, six Sanskrit labels on scrolls, earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated king with halo-like arch, ministers presenting six policy emblems on gold-embossed panels, rich jewel tones, ornate court setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: mandala chart on a low desk, six neatly written Sanskrit terms, king pointing with stylus, delicate lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed durbar scene, map-like mandala on carpet, attendants holding six placards with Sanskrit terms, fine architectural background and naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सन्धिश्→सन्धिः; विग्रहश्→विग्रहः; चैव→च+एव; यानमासनमेव→यानम्+आसनम्+एव; संशयश्→संशयः; षड्गुणाः→षट्+गुणाः
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma sections on mandala-nīti and dūta (envoys); Agni Purana chapters on rāja-dharma and daṇḍa-nīti
FAQs
It teaches the political-technical doctrine of ṣāḍguṇya—six actionable options for a king’s foreign policy: peace (sandhi), war (vigraha), expedition (yāna), remaining stationed (āsana), dual policy (dvaidhībhāva), and strategic suspense/withholding decision (saṃśaya).
By cataloging a core framework of classical Indian diplomacy and war-planning, it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual and mythology into applied governance (rajadharma), akin to arthashastra-style political science.
In rajadharma terms, choosing among these measures supports righteous kingship—protecting subjects, restraining unjust violence, and maintaining order—thereby aligning political action with dharma and reducing harmful karma from reckless conflict.