Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 28
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
संस्थूलस्थाणुवल्मीकवृक्षगुल्मापकण्टकं सापसारा पदातीनां भूर्नातिविषमा मता
saṃsthūlasthāṇuvalmīkavṛkṣagulmāpakaṇṭakaṃ sāpasārā padātīnāṃ bhūrnātiviṣamā matā
संस्थूलस्थाणुवल्मीकवृक्षगुल्मापकण्टकरहितं, सापसारं च; पदातीनां भूमिर्नातिविषमा मता।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Terrain selection for infantry movement and encampment: choose ground free from obstacles (stumps, anthills, trees, thickets, thorny growth) and hazards (snakes), and avoid overly uneven surfaces.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pādāti-gamana-yogya Bhūmi: Obstacle-Free, Low-Hazard, Not Overly Uneven Ground","lookup_keywords":["pādāti","bhūmi-parīkṣā","valmīka","kaṇṭaka","sarpāpasāra"],"quick_summary":"Infantry-friendly terrain is relatively even and clear of dense obstacles and hidden dangers like snakes, enabling safe marching, formation integrity, and reduced injury risk."}
Weapon Type: Infantry operations (general)
Concept: Yukti (practical reasoning) in warfare: correct ground-choice prevents avoidable loss and preserves order.
Application: Before marching, conduct a ‘bhūmi-parīkṣā’ checklist: remove/avoid stumps and thickets, mark anthills, check for snakes, and select the least uneven corridor for foot troops.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military science: marching, terrain assessment, infantry movement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Terrain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Scouts and officers inspect a stretch of ground, pointing out stumps, anthills, thickets, thorny shrubs, and snake holes; a clear, gently even path is chosen for infantry columns to pass in formation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized landscape with labeled obstacles—stumps, valmīkas, trees, gulma, kaṇṭaka—scouts gesturing to a clear path, infantry in orderly line, bold contours and earthy greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted path boundary and banners, central officer indicating the safe corridor, decorative depiction of anthills and thorny shrubs, symmetrical composition with marching infantry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-technical terrain diagram: obstacle icons and a highlighted ‘safe lane’ for infantry, scouts with measuring staff, calm palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic terrain with detailed shrubs and trees, a scout lifting grass to reveal a snake, officers choosing a route, infantry column moving along the smoother ground, fine brushwork and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सापसारा → सा + अपसारा; भूर्नातिविषमा → भूः + न + अतिविषमा; संस्थूलस्थाणु...अपकण्टकम् = समाहार-द्वन्द्व-समासः (बहुपद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda: mārga-vicaya (route examination) and marching rules; Agni Purana sections on śivira-sthāna (camp-site selection)
FAQs
It gives a Dhanurveda guideline for selecting/recognizing infantry-suitable terrain: avoid ground obstructed by stumps, anthills, trees, thickets, thorny patches, and snake-infested areas.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical warcraft—logistics and fieldcraft—by codifying how an army evaluates terrain for safe and efficient foot-soldier movement.
Indirectly, it promotes dharmic conduct in warfare by minimizing avoidable harm and disorder—reducing needless injury to soldiers and preventing reckless engagement with dangerous ground.