Agni Purana — Chapter 239
AgP 239.1
:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे राजधर्मो नाम अष्टत्रिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः ॥ छप्तेर् {२३९} :श् अथोनचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः षाड्गुण्यं राम उवाच मण्डलं चिन्तयेत् मुख्यं राजा द्वादशराजकं अरिर्मित्रमरेर्मित्रं मित्रमित्रमतः परं
:e ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe rājadharmo nāma aṣṭatriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ || chapter {239} :ś athonacatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṣāḍguṇyaṃ rāma uvāca maṇḍalaṃ cintayet mukhyaṃ rājā dvādaśarājakaṃ arirmitramarermitraṃ mitramitramataḥ paraṃ
[Colophon: thus in the Agni Mahāpurāṇa the two hundred and thirty-eighth chapter, called the Law of Kings. Chapter 239: now the two hundred and thirty-ninth chapter, on the six measures of policy.] Rāma said: The king should consider the principal circle, that of twelve kings: the enemy, the ally, the enemy's ally, and beyond that the ally's ally,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.2
:न् १ राज्यं राष्ट्रञ्चेति ख॥ , छ॥ , ञ॥ च २ लक्षयेदिति ञ॥ :प् ३६६ तथारिमित्रमित्रञ्च विजिगीषोः पुरः स्मृताः(१) पार्ष्णिग्राहः स्मृतः पश्चादाक्रन्दस्तदनन्तरं
:n 1 rājyaṃ rāṣṭrañceti kha.. , cha.. , ña.. ca 2 lakṣayediti ña.. :p 366 tathārimitramitrañca vijigīṣoḥ puraḥ smṛtāḥ(1) pārṣṇigrāhaḥ smṛtaḥ paścādākrandastadanantaraṃ
[apparatus: 'rājyaṃ rāṣṭraṃ ca' in MSS kha, cha, ña; 'lakṣayet' in MS ña; page 366] and likewise the enemy's ally's ally — these are reckoned as lying in front of the would-be conqueror. Behind him is reckoned the rear-attacker, and after him the rescuer,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.3
आसारावनयोश् चैवं विजगीषाश् च मण्डलं अरेश् च विजिगीषोश् च मध्यमो भूम्यनन्तरः
āsārāvanayoś caivaṃ vijagīṣāś ca maṇḍalaṃ areś ca vijigīṣoś ca madhyamo bhūmyanantaraḥ
and likewise the reinforcements of these two — such is the circle of the would-be conqueror. And of the enemy and of the would-be conqueror, the middle king is the one whose territory borders (on both).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.4
अनुग्रहे संहतयोर् निग्रहे व्यस्तयोः प्रभुः मण्डलाद्वहिरेतेषामुदासीनो बलाधिकः
anugrahe saṃhatayor nigrahe vyastayoḥ prabhuḥ maṇḍalādvahireteṣāmudāsīno balādhikaḥ
He is able to favour the two when they are joined together and to suppress them when they are divided. Outside the circle of these stands the neutral king, superior in strength;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.5
अनुग्रहे संहतानां व्यस्तानां च बुधे प्रभुः सन्धिञ्च विग्रहं यानमासानदि वदामि ते
anugrahe saṃhatānāṃ vyastānāṃ ca budhe prabhuḥ sandhiñca vigrahaṃ yānamāsānadi vadāmi te
he is able to favour them when united and (to suppress them) when divided, O wise one. I shall tell you of alliance, war, marching, sitting still, and the rest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.6
बलवद्विग्रहीतेन सन्धिं कुर्याच्छिवाय च कपाल उपहारश् च सन्तानः सङ्गतस् तथा
balavadvigrahītena sandhiṃ kuryācchivāya ca kapāla upahāraś ca santānaḥ saṅgatas tathā
With a stronger (king) with whom one has become embroiled one should make peace, for one's own good: kapāla, upahāra, santāna, and saṅgata,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.7
उपन्यासः प्रतीकारः संयोगः पुरुषान्तरः अदृष्टनर आदिष्ट आत्मापि स उपग्रहः
upanyāsaḥ pratīkāraḥ saṃyogaḥ puruṣāntaraḥ adṛṣṭanara ādiṣṭa ātmāpi sa upagrahaḥ
upanyāsa, pratīkāra, saṃyoga, puruṣāntara, adṛṣṭanara, ādiṣṭa, ātman as well, and upagraha,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.8
परिक्रमस् तथा छिन्नस् तथा च परदूषणं स्कन्धोपयेयः सन्धिश् च सन्धयः षोडशेरिताः
parikramas tathā chinnas tathā ca paradūṣaṇaṃ skandhopayeyaḥ sandhiś ca sandhayaḥ ṣoḍaśeritāḥ
parikrama, likewise chinna, and also paradūṣaṇa, skandhopaneya, and (simple) sandhi — sixteen treaties have been declared.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.9
परस्परोपकारश् च मैत्रः सम्बन्धकस् तथा(२) उपहाराश् च चत्वारस्तेषु मुख्याश् च सन्धयः
parasparopakāraś ca maitraḥ sambandhakas tathā(2) upahārāś ca catvārasteṣu mukhyāś ca sandhayaḥ
Mutual assistance, friendship, and connection by kinship, and likewise the (treaties of) tribute — four in number: among these are the chief kinds of treaty.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.10
बालो वृद्धो दीर्घरोगस् तथा बन्धुवहिष्कृतः मौरुको भीरुकजनो लुब्धो लुब्धजनस् तथा
bālo vṛddho dīrgharogas tathā bandhuvahiṣkṛtaḥ mauruko bhīrukajano lubdho lubdhajanas tathā
A child, an old man, one with a long-standing illness, one cast out by his kinsmen, one who is (?) 'mauruka', a cowardly man, a greedy man, and one whose people are greedy,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.11
विरक्तप्रकृतिश् चैव विषयेष्वतिशक्तिमान् अनेकचित्तमन्त्रश् च देवब्राह्मणनिन्दकः
viraktaprakṛtiś caiva viṣayeṣvatiśaktimān anekacittamantraś ca devabrāhmaṇanindakaḥ
and one whose disposition is disaffected, one excessively addicted to sense-objects, one of many minds and many counsels, one who reviles gods and brahmins,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.12
दैवोपहतकश् चैव दैवनिन्दक एव च दुर्भिक्षव्यसनोपेतो बलव्यसनसङ्कुलः
daivopahatakaś caiva daivanindaka eva ca durbhikṣavyasanopeto balavyasanasaṅkulaḥ
and one struck down by fate, and likewise one who reviles fate, one afflicted by the calamity of famine, one beset by the calamity of his army,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.13
:न् १ पुरःस्थिता इति ख॥ , छ॥ च २ मैत्रः सुखकरस्तथेति ग॥ :प् ३६७ स्वदेशस्थो बहुरिपुर्मुक्तः कालेन यश् च ह सत्यधर्मव्यपेतश् च विंशतिः पुरुषा अमी
:n 1 puraḥsthitā iti kha.. , cha.. ca 2 maitraḥ sukhakarastatheti ga.. :p 367 svadeśastho bahuripurmuktaḥ kālena yaś ca ha satyadharmavyapetaś ca viṃśatiḥ puruṣā amī
[apparatus: 1 'puraḥsthitāḥ' in MSS kha and cha; 2 'maitraḥ sukhakaras tathā' in MS ga; page 367] one who stays within his own country, one with many enemies, one abandoned by the times, and one who has strayed from truth and dharma — these twenty men:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.14
एर्तैः सन्धिं न कुर्वीत विगृह्णीयात्तु केबलं परस्परापकारेण पुंसां भवति विग्रहः
ertaiḥ sandhiṃ na kurvīta vigṛhṇīyāttu kebalaṃ parasparāpakāreṇa puṃsāṃ bhavati vigrahaḥ
With these one should not make a treaty, but should only wage war. War arises among men from mutual injury.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.15
आत्मनो ऽभ्युदयाकाङ्क्षी पीड्यमानः परेण वा देशकालबलोपेतः प्रारभेतेह विग्रहं(१)
ātmano 'bhyudayākāṅkṣī pīḍyamānaḥ pareṇa vā deśakālabalopetaḥ prārabheteha vigrahaṃ(1)
One who desires his own advancement, or who is being oppressed by another, when he is possessed of (favourable) place, time and strength, should here begin war.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.16
राज्यस्त्रीस्थानदेशानां ज्ञानस्य च बलस्य च अपहारी(२) मदो मानः पीडा वैषयिकी तथा
rājyastrīsthānadeśānāṃ jñānasya ca balasya ca apahārī(2) mado mānaḥ pīḍā vaiṣayikī tathā
The seizure of kingdom, women, position and territory, and of knowledge and of strength; intoxication, pride, and oppression concerning sense-objects;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.17
ज्ञानात्मशक्तिधर्माणां(३) विघातो दैवमेव च मित्रार्थञ्चापमानश् च तथा बन्धुविनाशनं
jñānātmaśaktidharmāṇāṃ(3) vighāto daivameva ca mitrārthañcāpamānaś ca tathā bandhuvināśanaṃ
the thwarting of (one's) knowledge, self, power and duty, and fate itself; and insult in the matter of an ally, and likewise the destruction of kinsmen;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.18
भूतानुग्रहविच्छेदस् तथा मण्डलदूषणं एकार्थाभिनिवेशत्वमिति विग्रहयोनयः
bhūtānugrahavicchedas tathā maṇḍaladūṣaṇaṃ ekārthābhiniveśatvamiti vigrahayonayaḥ
the cutting off of favour to living beings, and likewise the corrupting of the circle (of neighbouring states), and the clinging of both to one and the same object — such are the wombs of war.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.19
सापत्न्यं वास्तुजं स्त्रीजं वाग्जातमपराधजं वैरं पञ्चविधं प्रोक्तं साधनैः प्रशमन्नयेत्
sāpatnyaṃ vāstujaṃ strījaṃ vāgjātamaparādhajaṃ vairaṃ pañcavidhaṃ proktaṃ sādhanaiḥ praśamannayet
Enmity is said to be of five kinds: arising from rivalry, from a dwelling-place, from a woman, born of speech, and born of an offence; one should quell it by (proper) means.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.20
किञ्चित्फलं निष्फलं वा सन्दिग्धफलमेव च तदात्वे दोषजननमायत्याञ्चैव निष्फलं
kiñcitphalaṃ niṣphalaṃ vā sandigdhaphalameva ca tadātve doṣajananamāyatyāñcaiva niṣphalaṃ
(War may be) of little fruit, or fruitless, or of doubtful fruit; or productive of harm in the present and likewise fruitless in the future;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.21
आयत्याञ्च तदात्वे च दोषसञ्जननं तथा अपरिज्ञातवीर्येण परेण स्तोभितो ऽपि वा
āyatyāñca tadātve ca doṣasañjananaṃ tathā aparijñātavīryeṇa pareṇa stobhito 'pi vā
or productive of harm both in the future and in the present; or (waged) with an enemy whose strength is not known, or even when one has been goaded (into it);
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.22
परार्थं स्त्रीनिमित्तञ्च दीर्घकालं द्विजैः सह अकालदैवयुक्तेन बलोद्धतसखेन च
parārthaṃ strīnimittañca dīrghakālaṃ dvijaiḥ saha akāladaivayuktena baloddhatasakhena ca
or for another's sake, or on account of a woman, or lasting a long time, or against brahmins, or with a partner joined to an unfavourable fate, or with an ally puffed up by his strength,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.23
:न् १ आत्मन इत्य् अदिः, विग्रहमित्यन्तः पाठः ग॥पुस्तके नास्ति २ अवहार इति घ॥ ३ ज्ञानार्थशक्तिधर्माणामिति ञ॥ :प् ३६८ तदात्वे फलसंयुक्तमायत्यां फलवर्जितं आयत्यां फलसंयुक्तं तदात्वे निष्फलं तथा
:n 1 ātmana ity adiḥ, vigrahamityantaḥ pāṭhaḥ ga..pustake nāsti 2 avahāra iti gha.. 3 jñānārthaśaktidharmāṇāmiti ña.. :p 368 tadātve phalasaṃyuktamāyatyāṃ phalavarjitaṃ āyatyāṃ phalasaṃyuktaṃ tadātve niṣphalaṃ tathā
[apparatus: 1 the passage beginning 'ātmanaḥ' and ending 'vigraham' is absent in MS ga; 2 'avahāra' in MS gha; 3 'jñānārthaśaktidharmāṇām' in MS ña; page 368] or joined with fruit in the present but devoid of fruit in the future, or joined with fruit in the future but fruitless in the present —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.24
इतीमं षोडशविधन्नकुर्यादेव विग्रहं तदात्वायतिसंशुद्धं कर्म राजा सदाचरेत्
itīmaṃ ṣoḍaśavidhannakuryādeva vigrahaṃ tadātvāyatisaṃśuddhaṃ karma rājā sadācaret
thus he should not wage this war of sixteen kinds; the king should always undertake an action that is sound both in the present and for the future.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.25
हृष्टं पुष्टं बलं मत्वा गृह्णीयाद्विपरीतकं मित्रमाक्रन्द आसारो यदा स्युर्दृढभक्तयः
hṛṣṭaṃ puṣṭaṃ balaṃ matvā gṛhṇīyādviparītakaṃ mitramākranda āsāro yadā syurdṛḍhabhaktayaḥ
Judging his own force to be cheerful and well-nourished, and (that of the enemy) to be the reverse, he should take it up; when allies, defenders and reinforcements are firm in their devotion,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.26
परस्य विपरीतञ्च तदा विग्रहमाचरेत् विगृह्य सन्धाय तथा सम्भूयाथ प्रसङ्गतः
parasya viparītañca tadā vigrahamācaret vigṛhya sandhāya tathā sambhūyātha prasaṅgataḥ
and the reverse is the case for the enemy, then he should wage war. Having fought, having made a treaty, and having combined (with others), then by attachment (to a cause),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 239.27
उपेक्षया च निपुणैर् यानं पञ्चविधं स्मृतं परस्परस्य सामर्थ्यविघातादासनं स्मृतं
upekṣayā ca nipuṇair yānaṃ pañcavidhaṃ smṛtaṃ parasparasya sāmarthyavighātādāsanaṃ smṛtaṃ
and by indifference — thus the march is held by experts to be of five kinds. From the mutual destruction of (each other's) capacity, halting is prescribed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.28
अरेश् च विजगीषोश् च यानवत् पञ्चधा स्मृतम् बलिनीर्द्विषतोर्मध्ये वाचात्मानं समर्पयन्
areś ca vijagīṣoś ca yānavat pañcadhā smṛtam balinīrdviṣatormadhye vācātmānaṃ samarpayan
For the enemy and for the one who seeks to conquer it is said to be of five kinds, like the march. Between two powerful foes, offering himself up by (mere) word,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.29
द्वैधीभावेन तिष्ठेत काकाक्षिवदलक्षितः उभयोरपि सम्पाते सेवेत बलवत्तरं
dvaidhībhāvena tiṣṭheta kākākṣivadalakṣitaḥ ubhayorapi sampāte seveta balavattaraṃ
He should stay in a policy of duplicity, unnoticed like a crow's eye; when the two clash together, he should serve the stronger.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.30
यदा द्वावपि नेच्छेतां संश्लेषं जातसंविदौ तदोपसर्पेत्तच्छत्रुमधिकं वा स्वयं व्रजेत्(१)
yadā dvāvapi necchetāṃ saṃśleṣaṃ jātasaṃvidau tadopasarpettacchatrumadhikaṃ vā svayaṃ vrajet(1)
When the two, having come to an understanding, both refuse an alliance (with him), then he should approach the enemy of that (party), or himself go over to the more powerful one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.31
उच्छिद्यमानो बलिना निरुपायप्रतिक्रियः कुलोद्धतं सत्यमार्यमासेवेत बलोत्कटं(२)
ucchidyamāno balinā nirupāyapratikriyaḥ kuloddhataṃ satyamāryamāseveta balotkaṭaṃ(2)
Being destroyed by a stronger (king), with no counter-measure by (other) expedients, he should attach himself to one of eminent family, truthful, noble, and pre-eminent in power.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 239.32
तद्दर्शनोपास्तिकता नित्यन्तद्भावभाविता तत्कारितप्रश्रियता वृत्तं संश्रयिणः श्रुतं
taddarśanopāstikatā nityantadbhāvabhāvitā tatkāritapraśriyatā vṛttaṃ saṃśrayiṇaḥ śrutaṃ
Attendance at his audiences, being always intent upon his intentions, showing deference in what he has ordered done — such is said to be the conduct of one who has taken refuge.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain