Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Chapter 233 — Ṣāḍguṇya (The Six Measures of Royal Policy) and Foreign Daṇḍa
सांवत्सरास्तापसाश् च नाशं ब्रूयुः प्ररस्य च जिगीषुः पृथिवीं राजा तेन चोद्वेजयेत् परान्
sāṃvatsarāstāpasāś ca nāśaṃ brūyuḥ prarasya ca jigīṣuḥ pṛthivīṃ rājā tena codvejayet parān
หากสางวัตสร (โหรพยากรณ์รายปี) และนักบำเพ็ญตบะประกาศความพินาศแก่ศัตรูแล้ว พระราชาผู้ปรารถนาจะพิชิตแผ่นดินพึงอาศัยเหตุนี้ทำให้ฝ่ายตรงข้ามหวาดหวั่น.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Use authoritative prognostication (annual astrologers) and ascetic pronouncements as morale weapons: publicize predictions of enemy ruin to intimidate and destabilize opponents.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sāṃvatsara-vākya and Tāpasa-vākya as Udvejana-upāya","lookup_keywords":["sāṃvatsara","tāpasa","nāśa-vākya","jigīṣu","udvejana"],"quick_summary":"When annual prognosticators and ascetics declare the enemy’s destruction, the conquering king should leverage that proclamation to frighten rivals and strengthen his own campaign narrative."}
Concept: Royal power is reinforced by perceived cosmic order; aligning rule with prognostic and ascetic authority strengthens legitimacy and weakens opponents.
Application: Consult recognized experts, craft public narratives around auspicious timing, and use proclamations to deter resistance before battle.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma (Governance, Omens, and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Annual astrologers and ascetics announce the enemy’s impending ruin; the king listens, then heralds spread the proclamation as enemy envoys and soldiers react with dread.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style assembly with sages and astrologers holding palm-leaf charts, the king attentive, heralds departing, enemy figures shown anxious; strong outlines and ritual atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold-leaf halos for ascetics, astrologer with almanac, king in regal posture, proclamation scroll, rich ornamentation emphasizing authority","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting instructional court scene: astrologer indicating saṃvatsara chart, ascetic blessing/declaring, king planning campaign; refined lines and calm didactic tone","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a court consultation: astrologers with instruments/manuscripts, ascetics in simple robes, king and ministers; messengers carrying proclamations; detailed architecture and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sāṃvatsarāstāpasāḥ = sāṃvatsarāḥ + tāpasāḥ; tāpasāś = tāpasāḥ (visarga sandhi); codvejayet = ca + udvejayet.
Related Themes: Agni Purana rājadharma sections on jyotiṣa consultation and auspicious timing; Agni Purana utpāta-śānti and nimitta interpretation passages
FAQs
It applies Jyotiṣa-style annual prognostication (sāṃvatsara indications) and the counsel of ascetics as strategic intelligence: when omens predict the enemy’s downfall, the king should act assertively to demoralize opponents.
It blends political science (rāja-nīti) with prognostic astrology and religious authority (tāpasas), showing how the Agni Purana integrates governance, divination, and practical strategy in a single instructional continuum.
By aligning royal action with dharmic counsel and auspicious indications, the king is portrayed as acting in harmony with cosmic order—using discernment rather than mere aggression—thereby reducing adharma-driven violence and its karmic burden.