Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 24
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
द्वितीये अहनि सङ्ग्रामो भविष्यति यदा तदा स्नपयेद्गजमश्वादि यजेद्देवं नृपसिंहकं
dvitīye ahani saṅgrāmo bhaviṣyati yadā tadā snapayedgajamaśvādi yajeddevaṃ nṛpasiṃhakaṃ
若战斗将于第二日发生，则当其时应为大象、马等行洒净沐浴之仪（snāpana），并礼拜神祇尼罗帕西摩诃迦（Nṛpasiṁhaka，即那罗辛哈，人狮之主）。
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"War-omen and propitiatory rite: if battle is expected on the second day, perform lustration of war-animals and worship Narasiṃha (Nṛpasiṃhaka) for protection and victory.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yuddha-śānti: Second-day battle rite—animal lustration and Nṛpasiṃhaka worship","lookup_keywords":["yuddha-shanti","snapanam","gaja-ashva","dvitiyahani","nrpasimhaka"],"quick_summary":"Before an imminent battle (especially indicated for the second day), ritually bathe elephants and horses and propitiate Narasiṃha to avert harm and strengthen royal fortune."}
Concept: Ritual action aligns human effort with divine protection; purity and devotion support righteous force.
Application: Before high-risk action, perform structured preparation (cleaning, consecration, focused worship) to stabilize mind and resources.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Yuddha-shanti-kalpa (Royal rites for omens, war-prognostics, and propitiatory worship)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Battlefield/Camp
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On the eve of battle, elephants and horses are ritually bathed and adorned; a temporary altar is set where the king worships Narasiṃha for victory on the second day.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic Narasiṃha presence above a battlefield camp shrine, priests sprinkling water, elephants and horses being bathed with ritual vessels, lamps and conch, intense reds and blacks with sacred energy.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Narasiṃha with gold halo and ornate frame, king offering flowers, elephants and horses decorated after snāna, gold leaf emphasizing divine protection and royal vow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear ritual sequence: animal lustration, altar setup, Narasiṃha worship; fine detailing of vessels, garlands, and camp arrangement, instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, military camp with attendants bathing elephants and horses, richly patterned cloths, a small shrine with Narasiṃha icon, king and priests in prayer, distant battlefield horizon."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: snapayedgajamaśvādi = snapayet gajam aśva-ādi; yajeddevaṃ = yajet devam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 235 (yuddha-śānti and omens cluster); Agni Purana Narasiṃha stotra/mantra materials (where present in stotra/mantra sections)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific shānti-karman for an impending battle on the “second day”: ritually bathe (lustrate) war-animals like elephants and horses and perform propitiatory worship of Nṛsiṁha for protection and victory.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana also systematizes practical statecraft: it records war-prognostics and corresponding ritual countermeasures (animal lustration, deity-specific worship), integrating governance, military readiness, and religious procedure.
The lustration purifies and ritually safeguards the king’s forces, while Nṛsiṁha worship invokes a fierce protective divinity associated with removing fear and obstacles—aimed at averting harm and securing righteous success in conflict.