Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 12
Chapter 233 — Ṣāḍguṇya (The Six Measures of Royal Policy) and Foreign Daṇḍa
देवतानां प्रसादश् च कीर्तनीयः परस्य तु आगतन्नो ऽमित्रबलं प्रहरध्वमभीतवत्
devatānāṃ prasādaś ca kīrtanīyaḥ parasya tu āgatanno 'mitrabalaṃ praharadhvamabhītavat
دیوتاؤں کی عنایت اور پرم کی مہربانی کا کیرتن کرنا چاہیے؛ اور جب دشمن کی قوت ہم پر آ پڑے تو بےخوف ہو کر دشمن کے لشکر پر ضرب لگاؤ۔
Lord Agni (teaching Dhanurveda principles in the Agni Purana narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Battlefield morale-management: invoke divine favor publicly and issue a fearless charge order at the moment of enemy contact.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daiva-prasāda-kīrtana and Abhīta-prāhāra (Fearless Strike)","lookup_keywords":["devatā-prasāda","abhīta","prāhāra","amitra-bala","raṇa-ājñā"],"quick_summary":"Before and during engagement, publicly proclaim divine support to steady troops; when the enemy host arrives, command an immediate fearless assault."}
Concept: Daiva-anugraha as a source of kṣātra-bala (royal/martial strength) and fearlessness in righteous battle.
Application: Leaders cultivate confidence by framing action as dharmically and divinely supported, reducing panic at first contact.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science and Battle Exhortations)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king and commander before the front line, raising a hand in proclamation of the gods’ favor as the enemy host approaches; troops surge forward fearlessly.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, frontal heroic king with raised hand, divine aura above (symbolic devas), disciplined fourfold troops behind, approaching enemy silhouettes, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed king on chariot, commander proclaiming devatā-prasāda, richly ornamented soldiers, stylized battlefield, embossed gold highlights on weapons and banners","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, instructional composition showing commander’s proclamation gesture and troops responding in formation, labeled banners, restrained palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed battlefield panorama, king addressing troops, calligraphic caption of proclamation, dense ranks, realistic horses and armor, dust clouds at enemy arrival"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prasādaś ca = prasādaḥ + ca; āgatanno = āgataṃ + naḥ; 'mitrabalaṃ = amitra-balam (a- initial after avagraha); praharadhvamabhītavat = praharadhvam + abhītavat.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections on senā-utsāha (troop morale) and raṇa-vidhi (battle procedure); Agni Purana Rajadharma passages on daiva and rāja-tejas
FAQs
It teaches a Dhanurveda-style battlefield injunction: invoke and proclaim divine favor to strengthen morale, then engage the approaching enemy force with fearless decisive action.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and war-science: concise operational commands (morale, invocation, engagement) typical of a military manual embedded in a Purana.
Remembering and proclaiming the gods’ grace frames combat as disciplined duty rather than panic or cruelty, cultivating courage and steadiness while aligning action with dharma and divine protection.