Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 23
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
नावमानयेत्तद्देश्यानागत्य स्वपुरं पुनः पृष्ठश् चैव रिपुनाशो भवेद्यथेति ट जित्वा शत्रुं प्रदास्यामीति ट जैत्रा यात्रास्त्विति ट प्राप्तविदेशस्तु इति ग , घ , ञ च देशाचारन्तु पालयेदिति ख देशाचारणेण पालयेदिति ग , घ , छ , ज , ञ च जयं प्राप्यार्चयेद्देवान् दद्याद्दानानि पार्थिवः
nāvamānayettaddeśyānāgatya svapuraṃ punaḥ pṛṣṭhaś caiva ripunāśo bhavedyatheti ṭa jitvā śatruṃ pradāsyāmīti ṭa jaitrā yātrāstviti ṭa prāptavideśastu iti ga , gha , ña ca deśācārantu pālayediti kha deśācāraṇeṇa pālayediti ga , gha , cha , ja , ña ca jayaṃ prāpyārcayeddevān dadyāddānāni pārthivaḥ
विदेशं प्राप्य तद्देश्यान् नावमानयेत्; स्वपुरं पुनरागत्य पृष्ठतो रिपुनाशं यथाविधि कुर्यात्। ‘जित्वा शत्रुं प्रदास्यामि’ इति; एता जैत्रा यात्राः। प्राप्तविदेशस्तु देशाचारं पालयेत्। जयं प्राप्य पार्थिवो देवानर्चयेद् दानानि च दद्यात्॥
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s rajadharma material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Diplomatic and campaign conduct: avoid insulting locals in foreign lands, observe local customs, secure rear against enemy action, and after victory perform worship and charity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Jaitra-yātrā: Conduct in foreign lands, rear-security, and post-victory rites","lookup_keywords":["jaitra-yatra","paradesha","deshachara","anavamana","rear-security"],"quick_summary":"A victorious expedition requires restraint toward foreign subjects, adherence to local custom for stability, vigilance against rear attacks, and post-victory worship and gifts to consolidate legitimacy."}
Concept: Power must be tempered by restraint and cultural respect; victory is completed by gratitude to the divine and generosity to subjects.
Application: In any expansion/negotiation, avoid humiliation of locals, adapt to local norms, secure vulnerabilities, and follow success with public-benefit actions.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, diplomacy, and conduct of a king on campaign)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a foreign city, the king behaves respectfully toward locals, follows their customs, keeps a vigilant rear-guard, then after victory worships and distributes gifts.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, foreign-town backdrop with distinct costumes, king greeting locals with restraint, soldiers guarding the rear, later scene of temple worship and alms distribution, bold outlines and ritual color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, post-victory worship scene with gold haloed deity, king offering and then giving gifts to citizens, ornate courtly richness, emphasis on dharmic kingship.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, narrative panels: (1) respectful conduct in foreign land, (2) rear-guard vigilance, (3) victory puja and dana; fine linework and didactic clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, conquered city with diverse populace, king forbidding insult, disciplined troops with rear detachment, victory celebration with charity, detailed architecture and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nāvamānayet = na avamānayet; taddeśyānāgatya = tat-deśyān āgatya; pṛṣṭhaś caiva = pṛṣṭhaḥ ca eva; bhavedyathā = bhavet yathā; yātrāstviti = yātrāḥ tu iti; prāptavideśastu = prāpta-videśaḥ tu; arcayeddevān = arcayet devān; dadyāddānāni = dadyāt dānāni. The markers ‘ṭa/ga/gha/…’ are editorial variant labels and excluded from pada analysis.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 235 (jaitra-yatra and deshachara passages)
FAQs
It teaches rajadharma for a victorious campaign: do not offend local populations in a conquered/foreign region, uphold regional customs, secure the rear against remaining enemies, and after victory perform deva-pūjā and dāna.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft—campaign conduct, public policy toward conquered peoples, and post-war religious and charitable duties—showing its broad scope across governance and dharma.
Victory is to be integrated with dharma: honoring gods and giving charity sanctifies royal power, while respecting local customs reduces adharma and social harm, supporting righteous rule and auspicious merit.