Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 27
Chapter 13 — कुरुपाण्डवोत्पत्त्यादिकथनं
Narration of the Origin of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, and Related Matters
एकादशाक्षौहिणीशं नृपं दुर्योधनं तदा युधिष्ठिरायार्धराज्यं देहि ग्रामांश् च पञ्च वा
ekādaśākṣauhiṇīśaṃ nṛpaṃ duryodhanaṃ tadā yudhiṣṭhirāyārdharājyaṃ dehi grāmāṃś ca pañca vā
แล้วจึงกล่าวแก่พระเจ้าทุรโยธน์ ผู้เป็นจอมทัพสิบเอ็ดอักษৌหิณีว่า “จงมอบครึ่งราชอาณาจักรแก่ยุธิษฐิระ หรืออย่างน้อยให้ห้าหมู่บ้าน”
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic/Itihāsa summary in the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Negotiation framing: offering proportional settlement (half-kingdom) down to minimal concession (five villages) as a peace proposal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Sāma-nīti: Ardha-rājya vā Pañca-grāma (minimum viable peace)","lookup_keywords":["ekādaśākṣauhiṇī","ardharājya","pañca grāma","Duryodhana","sāma"],"quick_summary":"Encapsulates graded conciliation: propose fair division, then reduce demands to a symbolic minimum—testing the opponent’s willingness for peace."}
Concept: Dharma-guided compromise: willingness to accept less to prevent adharma of mass violence.
Application: In disputes, present a principled claim but keep a de-escalatory fallback position to preserve social order.
Khanda Section: Itihasa-katha (Mahabharata-sankshipta / Rajadharma—diplomacy and kingship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kṛṣṇa (or the envoys’ party) addressing Duryodhana in court, presenting terms: half-kingdom or five villages; Duryodhana seated with martial retinue.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized Hastināpura court, Kṛṣṇa gesturing with open palm (sāma), Duryodhana rigid on throne, rows of warriors and ministers, saturated reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, court scene with gold arches, Duryodhana enthroned, Kṛṣṇa as radiant envoy presenting a scroll-like peace proposal, rich gold detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: two panels showing 'ardha-rājya' and 'pañca-grāma' as symbolic mini-maps offered before the throne","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined court etiquette, Kṛṣṇa speaking, Duryodhana with courtiers, intricate textiles, architectural depth and perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एकादशाक्षौहिणीशं = एकादश-अक्षौहिणी-ईशम्. युधिष्ठिरायार्धराज्यं = युधिष्ठिराय + अर्धराज्यम्. ग्रामांश् च = ग्रामान् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Itihasa synopsis passages on Kṛṣṇa-dūta and peace terms
FAQs
It conveys practical rāja-nīti (statecraft): proposing a proportional settlement (half the kingdom) or a minimal concession (five villages) to avert war.
By compressing Itihāsa (Mahābhārata) into instructive political counsel, it links narrative history with rajadharma themes such as inheritance rights, negotiation, and the scale of military power (akṣauhiṇī).
Choosing compromise and honoring rightful claims is aligned with dharma; refusing even a small just share is portrayed as adharma that ripens into destructive karma (war and downfall).