Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 1
युद्धयात्रा (Yuddhayātrā) — The War-Expedition
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे दण्डप्रणयनं नाम षड्विंशत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ सप्तविंशत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः युद्धयात्रा पुष्कर उवाच यदा मन्येत नृपतिराक्रन्देन बलीयसा पार्ष्णिग्राहो ऽभिभूतो मे तदा यात्रां प्रयोजयेत्
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe daṇḍapraṇayanaṃ nāma ṣaḍviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha saptaviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ yuddhayātrā puṣkara uvāca yadā manyeta nṛpatirākrandena balīyasā pārṣṇigrāho 'bhibhūto me tadā yātrāṃ prayojayet
یوں اگنی مہاپُران میں “دَण्डپرنَیَن” نامی ۲۲۶واں باب ختم ہوتا ہے۔ اب ۲۲۷واں باب “یُدھ یاترا” شروع ہوتا ہے۔ پُشکر نے کہا: جب راجا یہ سمجھے کہ طاقتور دشمن جنگی نعرے کے ساتھ اسے دبا رہا ہے اور پیچھے سے وار کرنے والا پارشنِگراہ اسے مغلوب کر چکا ہے، تو اسے لشکری مہم کے لیے روانہ ہونا چاہیے۔
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Strategic decision-rule for when a king should undertake a yuddha-yatra (campaign) under pressure from a stronger aggressor and a rear-harassing enemy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yuddhayātrā—When to Launch a Campaign (Ākranda & Pārṣṇigrāha Pressure)","lookup_keywords":["yuddhayātrā","ākranda","pārṣṇigrāha","rājadharma","campaign trigger"],"quick_summary":"If a stronger enemy presses with aggressive onslaught and a rear-assailing foe gains advantage, the king should initiate a military expedition to regain strategic initiative."}
Concept: Rājadharma requires timely daṇḍa and yātrā when state security is threatened from front and rear.
Application: Use threat-assessment (stronger aggressor + rear-harasser) as a governance trigger for mobilization rather than delay.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma / Daṇḍanīti (Governance, Law, and Statecraft) — with Yuddha-vidyā (Military Expedition Protocols)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king in council receives reports: a stronger enemy advances with war-cries while a rear-assailing foe threatens supply lines; the king orders the campaign to begin.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: royal court with ministers, palm-leaf maps, messengers describing ākranda and pārṣṇigrāha; bold flat colors, ornate jewelry, traditional architecture backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: enthroned king with ministers and commander, gold-leaf highlights on crown and weapons, symbolic depiction of two enemies (front and rear) and a banner reading yuddhayātrā.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional court scene with labeled positions (front aggressor, rear-harasser), king pointing to route plan; delicate lines, muted palette, detailed textiles.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: strategic durbar with detailed faces, attendants, and horses; two battle vignettes in background showing front assault and rear raid; fine architectural perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti āgneye; adhyāyaḥ (’dhyāyaḥ) restored; nṛpatirākrandena → nṛpatiḥ ākrandena; pārṣṇigrāho ’bhibhūto → pārṣṇigrāhaḥ abhibhūtaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 226 (Daṇḍapraṇayana); Agni Purana 227 (Yuddhayātrā, continuation verses)
FAQs
It imparts Daṇḍanīti/Yuddha-vidyā guidance: a king should initiate a campaign (yātrā) when a stronger aggressor advances and a rear-attacking enemy (pārṣṇigrāha) has gained the upper hand—i.e., when strategic pressure demands decisive mobilization.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond theology into practical governance—moving from codified punishment (daṇḍa) to operational military policy (yuddhayātrā), reflecting its broad, handbook-like treatment of law, administration, and war.
As a rājadharma directive, it frames warfare as a duty-bound act of protection and order: the king must act decisively to prevent disorder and safeguard subjects, aligning political action with dharma rather than personal aggression.