Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 63
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
यतः फल्गु यतो भिन्नं यतश्चान्यैर् अधिष्ठितं ततश्चारिबलं हन्यादात्मनश्चोपवृंहयेत्
yataḥ phalgu yato bhinnaṃ yataścānyair adhiṣṭhitaṃ tataścāribalaṃ hanyādātmanaścopavṛṃhayet
శత్రుబలం ఎక్కడ బలహీనమో, ఎక్కడ విభజితమైందో, ఎక్కడ ఇతరులచే అధిష్ఠితమై/వ్యస్తమైందో—ఆ దిశ నుండే దాడి చేసి శత్రుసేనను సంహరించి, తన సేనను బలపరచవలెను.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Battlefield decision-making: identify enemy weak points, divisions, and distractions; attack from that sector while simultaneously consolidating and reinforcing one’s own army.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Tactical Principle: Strike Where the Enemy is Weak/Divided/Occupied","lookup_keywords":["phalgu bala","bhinna sena","anyair adhishthita","ari-bala hana","atma-bala upabrimhana"],"quick_summary":"Exploit enemy vulnerability—weakness, fragmentation, or preoccupation—by attacking from that direction, while ensuring your own force is strengthened and supported."}
Concept: Nīti in warfare: victory is aligned with discernment (viveka) and measured strengthening of one’s own side, not mere aggression.
Application: Adopt a two-track command habit: every offensive order must include a simultaneous order for consolidation (reserves, supply, morale, formation integrity).
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science / Battlefield Tactics)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: niti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A commander surveys the battlefield, points to a weak/divided enemy sector, orders an attack there while reserves and supply lines behind his own troops are reinforced and tightened.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, panoramic battlefield with clear left-right narrative: enemy line broken in one area, allies reinforcing with elephants and banners; commander on a platform indicating the weak point; bold colors and rhythmic patterns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, regal commander with gold halo-like ornamentation; one side shows enemy line fractured; the other shows disciplined reinforcement of own troops; gold work on standards and armor.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, semi-diagrammatic battlefield with arrows showing attack direction toward weak sector and reinforcement flow to own center; clean lines and readable troop blocks.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, strategic council at the edge of battle; commander gesturing to a map; in background, a focused strike hits a distracted enemy wing while reserves move up; intricate detail and balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यतश्चान्यैर् = यतः + च + अन्यैः; ततश्चारिबलं = ततः + च + अरि-बलम्; हन्यादात्मनश्चोपवृंहयेत् = हन्यात् + आत्मनः + च + उपवृंहयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda: sections on vyuha deployment and battlefield conduct near 241.55–241.80
FAQs
It imparts Dhanurveda-style tactical doctrine: identify the enemy’s weak, divided, or externally-occupied sector and attack from that direction while simultaneously reinforcing one’s own strength.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and military science—here, a concise rule of operational tactics (choosing the axis of attack and force-building), reflecting its wide-ranging, encyclopedic scope.
Within Rajadharma-oriented teaching, it frames warfare as disciplined duty: minimizing risk by striking strategic weak points and maintaining one’s own order and strength, aligning action with prudent, regulated conduct rather than reckless violence.