Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 30
Nīrājana-vidhiḥ
Procedure of Nīrājana / Auspicious Lamp-Waving and Royal Propitiation
चतुरङ्गबलोपेतः सर्वसैन्येन नादयन् एवं कृत्वा गृहं गच्छेद्विसर्जितजलाञ्जलिः
caturaṅgabalopetaḥ sarvasainyena nādayan evaṃ kṛtvā gṛhaṃ gacchedvisarjitajalāñjaliḥ
เมื่อพร้อมด้วยกองทัพสี่เหล่าและทำให้ไพร่พลทั้งมวลกึกก้อง ครั้นกระทำดังนี้แล้ว พึงกลับสู่เรือน โดยปล่อยน้ำในฝ่ามือเป็นเครื่องบูชา (ชลาญชลี)
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s usual frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Post-rite mobilization and demobilization: proceed with the fourfold army with resounding signals, then return home after completing the rite and releasing the water-offering—closing the operation ritually and administratively.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Caturaṅga-Bala March Signal and Jalāñjali Visarjana (Rite Closure)","lookup_keywords":["chaturanga-bala","sainya-nada","jalanjali","visarjana","griha"],"quick_summary":"Move with the fourfold army while sounding the host, then conclude by releasing the water-offering and return—marking both tactical readiness and ritual completion."}
Weapon Type: Caturaṅga-bala (infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephants)
Concept: Power is bounded by procedure: begin with rite, act with order, end with formal release (visarjana).
Application: In governance and operations, include explicit closure steps (dismissal, offerings, return) to prevent disorder and lingering obligations.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Sena-vyavastha (Governance and Military Procedure)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Palace/Encampment
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast fourfold army assembled—elephants, chariots, cavalry, infantry—raising a thunderous sound of drums and conches; afterward the king releases a handful of water to conclude and the procession returns home.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: panoramic caturaṅga army in stylized tiers, conches and drums prominent, elephants and chariots in profile, concluding scene with king pouring water from cupped hands, bold colors and rhythmic repetition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: glittering army standards with gold leaf, dramatic central king performing jalāñjali release, ornate instruments, rich reds and greens, embossed detailing on armor and caparisons.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional composition labeling the four limbs of the army, clear depiction of signaling instruments, then a small vignette of water-offering release and orderly return, fine lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed military review with drums, kettledrums, conches, varied units, then a quiet closing moment of water release near palace road, naturalistic landscape and floral borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुरङ्गबलोपेतः = चतुरङ्ग-बल-उपेतः; गच्छेद्विसर्जितजलाञ्जलिः = गच्छेत् विसर्जित-जलाञ्जलिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 267.26 (consecration and elephant ranks); Agni Purana 267.28 (bali distribution)
FAQs
It prescribes the formal conclusion of a military action/procession: the commander, with the fourfold army, makes the host sound (drums/clamor) and then performs a concluding jalāñjali-visarjana (water-libation release) before returning home.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana records practical statecraft and war-protocol—here combining military organization (caturaṅga-bala) with a ritualized closure (water-libation), showing how governance and sacred procedure interlock.
The released jalāñjali functions as a purificatory and concluding act, ritually ‘dismissing’ the undertaking and marking auspicious completion, helping neutralize impurity or fault accrued in martial activity.