Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 16
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
श्रीगजस्त्वं कृतो राज्ञा भवानस्य गजाग्रणीः प्रभूर्माल्याग्रभक्तैस्त्वां पूजयिष्पति पार्थिवः
śrīgajastvaṃ kṛto rājñā bhavānasya gajāgraṇīḥ prabhūrmālyāgrabhaktaistvāṃ pūjayiṣpati pārthivaḥ
بادشاہ نے تمہیں مبارک شاہی ہاتھی مقرر کیا ہے؛ تم اس کے ہاتھیوں میں سرفہرست ہو۔ وہ فرمانروا ہاروں اور عمدہ نذرانۂ طعام کے ساتھ تمہاری پوجا کرے گا۔
Lord Agni (traditional narrator of the Agni Purana, instructing a sage such as Vasiṣṭha in the frame narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Royal protocol for appointing and honoring the state elephant (gajagrani) to secure loyalty, auspiciousness, and public legitimacy of kingship.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rāja-gaja (Śrīgaja) Appointment and Pūjā Protocol","lookup_keywords":["śrīgaja","gajāgraṇī","rāja-gaja","mālya-pūjā","bhakṣya-upacāra"],"quick_summary":"The king formally elevates a chosen elephant as foremost (gajāgraṇī) and honors it with garlands and select food-offerings. This establishes auspicious royal symbolism and a reciprocal bond of service and protection."}
Concept: Rājadharma includes honoring key royal supports (like the state elephant) through respectful ritual, creating reciprocal duty and stability.
Application: Maintain institutional loyalty by combining material care with ceremonial honor for critical protectors of the state.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Gaja-śāstra (Elephant lore and royal administration)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king ceremonially appoints a majestic elephant as the royal foremost, adorning it with garlands while attendants present choice food offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vibrant colors, frontal royal figure placing flower garlands on a caparisoned elephant, attendants holding brass lamps and offering trays, ornate palace backdrop, traditional patterns, sacred auspicious mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights on the elephant’s ornaments and the king’s crown, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry, offering plates with sweets and fruits, symmetrical composition, halo-like aura of auspiciousness.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, soft shading, detailed textiles and caparison, courtly interior with pillars, the king performing upacāra with garland and food, calm instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of court scene, naturalistic elephant anatomy, jeweled howdah, attendants with trays of delicacies, Persianate architectural elements, subdued palette with intricate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रीगजस्+त्वम्→श्रीगजस्त्वम्; प्रभुः+माल्याग्रभक्तैः→प्रभूर्माल्याग्रभक्तैः (विसर्ग-रेफ); भक्तैः+त्वाम्→भक्तैस्त्वाम्; राजान्+आहवे (अगले श्लोक में) जैसे संधि-प्रकार समान।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 290 (Gaja-śāstra / Rājadharma sequence)
FAQs
It describes a courtly protocol: the king formally appoints an elephant as the chief (gajāgraṇī/śrī-gaja) and then honours it through pūjā using garlands and select food offerings.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical statecraft—how royal institutions manage and ceremonially recognize key assets like war/processional elephants—showing the Purana’s coverage of governance, etiquette, and applied animal management.
By prescribing respectful pūjā to a royal elephant, it frames righteous rule as compassionate and dharmic stewardship; honouring dependents and royal instruments of duty is presented as merit-generating conduct for a ruler.