Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 25
Ṣāḍguṇya — The Six Measures of Foreign Policy
with Rāja-maṇḍala Theory
हृष्टं पुष्टं बलं मत्वा गृह्णीयाद्विपरीतकं मित्रमाक्रन्द आसारो यदा स्युर्दृढभक्तयः
hṛṣṭaṃ puṣṭaṃ balaṃ matvā gṛhṇīyādviparītakaṃ mitramākranda āsāro yadā syurdṛḍhabhaktayaḥ
เมื่อประเมินกำลังของมิตรว่าเบิกบาน อุดมสมบูรณ์ และเข้มแข็งแล้ว พึงใช้กลยุทธ์ย้อนกลับต่อเขา; และเมื่อเสียงคร่ำครวญกับกระแสภัยพิบัติพลุ่งขึ้น พึงกระทำการในยามที่ผู้ภักดีมั่นคงพร้อมเพรียง।
Lord Agni (teaching Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Alliance assessment and counter-strategy: evaluate ally’s morale, supply, and strength; choose reverse measures and act decisively in crisis when one’s own supporters are loyal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Mitra-bala-parīkṣā and Viparīta-upāya (Reverse strategy)","lookup_keywords":["mitra-parīkṣā","hṛṣṭa-puṣṭa-bala","viparīta-upāya","ākranda","āsāra"],"quick_summary":"Judge a partner’s effective power by morale and provisioning; employ counter-measures when needed, and in sudden distress act when internal loyalty is firm."}
Concept: Bala is not mere numbers—morale (hṛṣṭa) and supply/nourishment (puṣṭa) are decisive; political action must be timed to internal cohesion.
Application: In modern leadership: measure team readiness via morale and resources; in crises, act only when internal alignment is secured.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Statecraft and Policy)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A commander-king evaluates an ally’s camp: soldiers well-fed and cheerful; then he turns to advisors to plan a reverse counter-move as alarm-cries rise from a sudden raid, while loyal retainers stand firm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-part narrative: left shows cheerful, well-provisioned allied troops with granaries; right shows distress cries and rushing calamity, king steady with loyal attendants, bold outlines, traditional costumes.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king and advisors with gold detailing, depiction of abundant supplies (grain sacks) and bright-faced troops, contrasted with a small vignette of alarm and loyal guards, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene with visual cues for ‘hṛṣṭa’ (smiling troops), ‘puṣṭa’ (food stores), ‘bala’ (weapons/formation), and a council planning ‘viparīta-upāya’, fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, realistic military camp with provisions and lively soldiers, sudden messenger bringing distress news, king confers with wazirs, loyal bodyguards attentive, detailed textiles and tents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gṛhṇīyādviparītakam = gṛhṇīyāt + viparītakam; mitramākranda = mitram + ākrandaḥ (visarga lost in sandhi); syurdṛḍhabhaktayaḥ = syuḥ + dṛḍha-bhaktayaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Rajadharma on mitra-lakṣaṇa (marks of allies); Agni Purana sections on daṇḍa and upāya (sāma-dāna-bheda-daṇḍa)
FAQs
Niti-vidya (statecraft): it advises assessing an ally’s morale, provisioning, and strength, and then applying a reverse/counter-policy when conditions shift and distress signals arise, relying on loyal supporters.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical governance—diplomacy, alliance evaluation, and strategic reversals—alongside its better-known ritual and theological sections.
It frames kingship as disciplined discernment (viveka) and duty-bound protection: acting with careful assessment and dependable loyalty supports stable rule, which is treated as a dharmic responsibility.