Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 47
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
पक्षयोश् च गजानीकं व्यूहोन्तर्भेद्ययं स्मृतः रथस्थाने हयान् दद्यात् पदातींश् च हयश्राये
pakṣayoś ca gajānīkaṃ vyūhontarbhedyayaṃ smṛtaḥ rathasthāne hayān dadyāt padātīṃś ca hayaśrāye
เมื่อจัดกองช้างไว้ที่ปีกทั้งสอง กระบวนทัพนี้เรียกว่า ‘อันตัรเภทยะ’ (แทรกซึมภายใน) ในตำแหน่งรถศึกให้วางกองม้า และในตำแหน่งกองม้าให้วางทหารราบ
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Creating an interlocking/inner-penetrating sub-array by placing elephants on flanks and deliberately swapping unit roles (cavalry/chariot/infantry) to confuse the enemy and adapt to terrain/resources.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Antarbhedya vyūha and role-swapping of arms","lookup_keywords":["antarbhedya","gaja-pakṣa","ratha-sthāna","haya-sthāna","padāti-vyatyaya"],"quick_summary":"Station elephant corps on both flanks to form an antarbhedya (interlocking/inner-penetrating) sub-array. Employ tactical substitution: place cavalry where chariots would be, and infantry where cavalry would be, to adapt and misdirect."}
Weapon Type: Elephants (gaja), chariots (ratha), cavalry (haya), infantry (padāti)
Concept: Flexibility and intelligent substitution preserve function when ideal resources or conditions are absent.
Application: Build modular doctrine: units learn alternate roles; commanders can reconfigure arrays quickly to counter enemy expectations.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Military Science: Vyūha-racanā / Battle Formations)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Elephants anchor both flanks in a tight interlocking array; within the formation, cavalry occupies the chariot station and infantry occupies the cavalry station, creating a deceptive, adaptive layout.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: flanking elephants forming a protective bracket; interior troop icons swapped—horses in chariot-marked bays, infantry in horse-marked bays; bold outlines, patterned caparisons.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate flank elephants with gold detailing; central swapped units shown iconically with labeled standards; decorative borders emphasizing the ‘interlocking’ symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic illustration with arrows showing substitution (ratha-sthāna → haya, haya-sthāna → padāti); clean composition, soft palette, manuscript aesthetic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: richly detailed elephants on flanks; commanders signaling unit swaps; cavalry moving into chariot lanes, infantry advancing into cavalry lanes; lively realism and fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पक्षयोश् च = पक्षयोः + च; व्यूहोन्तर्भेद्ययं = व्यूहः + अन्तर्भेद्यः + अयम् (ः + अ → ओ; then sandhi); पदातींश् च = पदातीन् + च (न् + च → ंश्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 241 (vyūha-bheda and aṅga-vyatyaya rules)
FAQs
It imparts Dhanurveda-based tactical knowledge: how to position elephant units on the flanks and how to interchange unit-types (placing cavalry where chariots would be, and infantry where cavalry would be) as a specific sub-configuration of a battle array.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and war-science: it catalogues battlefield logistics, troop-class roles (elephants, chariots, cavalry, infantry), and formation-variants—demonstrating its broad, encyclopedic coverage of Rajadharma and Dhanurveda.
Its primary thrust is pragmatic (protection of the realm and disciplined conduct in warfare). In the Purāṇic frame, competent, rule-bound defense by a ruler supports dharma and social order, reducing adharmic harm through organized, strategic action.