Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 29
Chapter 238 — राजधर्माः (Rājadharmāḥ) | Duties of Kings
जलवद्धान्यधनवद्दुर्गं कालसहं महत् औदकं पार्वतं वार्क्षमैरिणं धन्विनं च षट्
jalavaddhānyadhanavaddurgaṃ kālasahaṃ mahat audakaṃ pārvataṃ vārkṣamairiṇaṃ dhanvinaṃ ca ṣaṭ
قلعہ پانی، غلہ اور دولت سے آراستہ ہو؛ وہ عظیم اور زمانے کی سختی سہنے والا ہو۔ قلعوں کی چھ قسمیں ہیں: آبی قلعہ، پہاڑی قلعہ، جنگلی/درختی قلعہ، بنجر زمین کا قلعہ، صحرائی قلعہ، اور خشک ریتلا قلعہ۔
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Fort policy: ensure stockpiles (water, grain, wealth), durability, and classify forts by terrain for strategic defense planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Durgalakshana and Shadvidha Durga (Six Fort Types)","lookup_keywords":["durga-lakshana","audaka-durga","parvata-durga","vanadurga","dhanvi-durga"],"quick_summary":"A fort must be provisioned and enduring; forts are classified by terrain—water, mountain, forest, desert/wasteland, plain/arid tract, and sandy/dry tract—guiding defensive choice."}
Concept: Kshaya-apakarshana (resisting decline) through foresight: provisioning and choosing defenses aligned with nature.
Application: Risk management: maintain reserves; design forts to withstand long disruptions; match fort type to local geography and threat model.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Durgavidhi (Fortification and Statecraft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Fort/Terrain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Six forts shown as vignettes: island/water fort, mountain citadel, forest fort, desert fort, open-plain fort, and sandy-tract fort; each stocked with water jars, granaries, and treasury chests to show readiness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, six-panel composition with stylized terrains, each fort with bold walls and watchtowers, symbolic water pots and grain heaps, strong earthy palette and ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, segmented panels with gold-highlighted fort gates, each terrain rendered decoratively (waves, rocks, trees, dunes), small icons of granary and treasure, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like depiction of six durgas with neat labels, fine linework, soft washes, emphasis on supplies (water, grain, wealth) inside each fort.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscapes for each fort type with realistic textures—rocky hills, dense woods, dunes—tiny soldiers and storehouses, meticulous architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जलवद्धान्यधनवद्दुर्गम् = जलवत् + धान्य + धनवत् + दुर्गम् (t/d assimilation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Durgavidhi: fort parts, garrisons, supplies; Agni Purana Rajadharma: protection of subjects and treasury
FAQs
It teaches durga-vidyā (fortification science): an ideal fort must have secure supplies (water, grain, wealth), be built for long endurance, and be selected/constructed according to six terrain-based categories (water, mountain, forest, wasteland, arid plain, sandy tract).
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana preserves practical Rajadharma—logistics, defense planning, and terrain-based military architecture—showing its scope as a compendium of governance and applied knowledge.
By promoting protection of subjects through durable, well-supplied defenses, the verse aligns kingship with dharma: safeguarding life and stability is treated as a righteous duty that supports social order and religious life.