Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 53
Mantra-śakti, Dūta-Carā (Envoys & Spies), Vyasana (Calamities), and the Sapta-Upāya of Nīti
परिवेशयेदिति ख तथैव सुप्रवर्तनमिति ज , ट च विशेषेणोपनिषिद्योगैर् हन्याच्छस्त्रादिना द्विषः जातिमात्रं द्विजं नैव हन्यात् सामोत्तरं वशे
pariveśayediti kha tathaiva supravartanamiti ja , ṭa ca viśeṣeṇopaniṣidyogair hanyācchastrādinā dviṣaḥ jātimātraṃ dvijaṃ naiva hanyāt sāmottaraṃ vaśe
“Dapat niyang ipaligid (ang mga ito)”—ganyan ang pagbasa sa Kha; gayundin, “dapat niyang pasulungin nang maayos ang (pwersa) / ipasok sa mabuting pagsalakay”—ayon sa mga pagbasa sa Ja at Ṭa. Lalo na sa paggamit ng mga lihim at estratehikong paraan, dapat pabagsakin ang mga kaaway sa pamamagitan ng sandata at iba pa. Ngunit hindi kailanman dapat pumatay ng isang brāhmaṇa dahil lamang sa kapanganakan; sa halip, dapat siyang mapasailalim sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagkasundo (sāma) at ng angkop na kabayarang pag-aayos.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"शत्रु-निग्रह में घेराबन्दी/सुप्रवर्तन जैसी सैन्य-चालें और गुप्त-उपाय; परन्तु ब्राह्मण-वध निषिद्ध—उसे साम/समाधान से वश में करना।","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"परिवेषण-नीति, सुप्रवर्तन, उपनिषद्योग (secret methods) और ब्राह्मण-अवध्यता","lookup_keywords":["परिवेशयेत्","सुप्रवर्तन","उपनिषद्योग","द्विष्-हनन","ब्राह्मण-अवध्य"],"quick_summary":"पाठान्तरों सहित यह नीति बताती है कि शत्रु को घेरकर/बल को सुव्यवस्थित अग्रसर कर, विशेषतः गुप्त-उपायों से शस्त्रादि द्वारा दमन करें; किन्तु जन्ममात्र से ब्राह्मण का वध न करें—साम और उचित प्रतिदान/समझौते से नियंत्रण करें।"}
Weapon Type: शस्त्र (generic: sword/spear/bow implied)
Concept: दण्ड का धर्म-संयम: शत्रु-दमन आवश्यक, पर वर्ण-धर्म/अवध्यता और साम-नीति का पालन।
Application: राज्य-बल प्रयोग में ‘rules of engagement’—लक्षित शत्रु पर कार्रवाई, संरक्षित वर्ग/धार्मिक मर्यादा का उल्लंघन न करना; विवाद-निपटान में समझौता/प्रतिदान।
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Dandaniti (Governance, law, and statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"सेनापति राजा को घेराबन्दी और सुव्यवस्थित अग्रसरता की योजना समझाता है; एक ओर शत्रु पर शस्त्र-प्रहार, दूसरी ओर ब्राह्मण-वेशधारी विरोधी को साम/समझौते से शांत किया जा रहा है।","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, battlefield planning with king and commander, circular encirclement formation shown symbolically, covert agents in shadows, a brahmin figure spared and approached with conciliatory gesture, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, king with gold-embellished armor, miniature encirclement diagram motif, weapons displayed, brahmin adversary offered a settlement scroll and gifts, rich gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic military diagram-like scene, troops forming ring, arrows/spears indicated, side panel showing sāma (soft speech) and counter-offer, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed troop movement around enemy camp, spies in disguise, separate vignette of negotiation with a brahmin scholar, fine architectural tents and landscape"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विशेषेणोपनिषिद्योगैर् = विशेषेण उपनिषद्-योगैः; हन्याच्छस्त्रादिना = हन्यात् शस्त्र-आदिना; लोकद्विष्टान् इत्यादिवत् अत्र ‘ख/ज/ट’ पाठ-चिह्नाः (अनुक्रम-संकेताः) इति गृहीताः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 240 (साम-दाम-भेद-दण्ड के नीति-सूत्र)
FAQs
It teaches rāja-nīti tactics: encirclement/cordon, coordinated advance, and the use of covert strategic methods (upaniṣid-yoga) to neutralize enemies, while prescribing limits and alternatives in punishment.
It exemplifies the text’s statecraft layer—mixing military tactics, intelligence/stratagems, and juridical-ethical constraints—showing that the Agni Purana compiles practical governance doctrine alongside religious material.
It frames punishment within dharma: even in conflict, indiscriminate violence—especially against a brāhmaṇa “by birth alone”—is condemned, urging restraint and dharmic resolution through conciliation and settlement to avoid grave demerit.