Agni Purana

राजा विभूतिमाप्नोति३ धारयन्ति नृपं हि ते । मन्त्रं कृत्वाथ व्यायामञ्चक्रे याने च शस्त्रके ।। २३५.

The king attains prosperity; for they uphold the king. Having established counsel, he should then engage in exercise and in the use of vehicles and weapons.

निःसत्त्वादौ नृपः स्नातः पश्येद्विष्णुं सुपूजितम् । हुतञ्च पावकं पश्येद्विप्रान् पश्येत्सुपूजितान् ।। २३५.

Having bathed at dawn, the king should behold Viṣṇu duly worshipped, should see the sacred fire offered, and should see the brāhmaṇas properly honored.

शास्त्राणि चिन्तयेद् दृष्ट्वा योधान् कोष्ठायुधं गृहं । अन्वास्य पश्चिमां सन्ध्यां कार्य्याणि च विचिन्त्य तु ।। २३५.

After inspecting the treatises, the warriors, the armory, and the treasury, and having performed the evening rites, he should reflect upon his duties.

चरान् सम्प्रेष्य भुक्तान्नमन्तःपुरचरो भवेत् । वाद्यगीतैरक्षितोऽन्यैरेवन्नित्यञ्चरेन्नृपः ।। २३५.

By sending out spies and having tasted the food, the king should remain within the inner quarters; protected by music and song, and by others, the king should always move about.

पुष्कर उवाच यात्राविधानपूर्वन्तु वक्ष्ये साङ्‌ग्रामिकं विधिं । सप्ताहेन यदा यात्रा भविष्यति महीपतेः ।। २३६.

Puṣkara said: I shall now explain the proper procedure for a military expedition; when, after seven days, the king is to set out.

पूजनीयो हरिः शम्भुर्मोदकाद्यैर्विनायकः । द्वितीयेऽहनि दिंक्‌पालान् सम्पूज्य शयनञ्चरेत् ।। २३६.

Hari, Śambhu, and Vināyaka are to be worshipped with sweets and other offerings; on the second day, having worshipped the guardians of the directions, he should rest.

शय्यायां वा तदग्रेऽथ कदेवान् प्रार्च्य मनुं स्मरेत् । नमः शम्भो त्रिनेत्राय रुद्राय वरदाय च ।। २३६.

On the bed or before it, having worshipped the gods, he should remember Manu: 'Salutations to Śambhu, the three-eyed, to Rudra, and to the bestower of boons.'

वामनाय विरूपाय स्वप्नाधिपतये नमः । भगवन्देवदेवेश शूलभृद्‌वृषवाहन ।। २३६.

Salutations to Vāmana, to the misshapen one, to the lord of dreams; O blessed one, god of gods, bearer of the trident, rider of the bull.

इष्टानिष्टे ममाचक्ष्व स्वप्ने सुप्तस्य शाश्वत । यज्जाग्रतो दूरमिति पुरोधा मन्त्रमुच्चरेत् ।। २३६.

Reveal to me, O eternal one, in my sleep, what is favorable or unfavorable; what is distant while awake—thus should the priest recite the mantra.

तृतीयेऽहनि दिक्‌पालान् रुद्रांस्तान् दिक्पतीन्यजेत् । ग्रहन् यजेच्चतुर्थेऽह्नि पञ्चमे चाशिवनौ यजेत् ।। २३६.

On the third day, he should sacrifice to the guardians of the directions and to the Rudras, those lords of the quarters; on the fourth day, he should worship the planets, and on the fifth, the Aśvins.

मार्गे या देवतास्तासान्नद्यादीनाञ्च पूजनं । दिव्यान्तरीक्षभौमस्थदेवानाञ्च तथा बलिः ।। २३६.

He should worship the deities along the path, and the rivers and others; likewise, he should offer oblations to the gods dwelling in the heavens, the midspace, and on earth.

रात्रौ भूतगणानाञ्च वासुदेवादिपूजनं । भद्राकाल्याः श्रियः कुर्य्यात् प्रार्थयेत् सर्व्देवताः ।। २३६.

At night, he should worship the hosts of spirits and Vāsudeva and others; he should honor Bhadrākālī and Śrī, and pray to all the deities.

वासुदेवः सङ्कर्षणः प्रद्यम्नश्चानिरुद्धकः । नारायणोऽब्जजो विष्णुर्न्नारसिंहो वराहकः ।। २३६.

Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha; Nārāyaṇa, the lotus-born, Viṣṇu, Nṛsiṃha, and Varāha.

सूर्य्यः सोमः कुकजचश्चान्द्रिजीवशुक्रशनैश्चराः ।। २३६.

Sūrya, Soma, Kuja, Candra, Jīva, Śukra, and Śanaiścara.

राहुः केतुर्गणपतिः सेनानी चण्डिका ह्युमा । लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती दुर्गा ब्रह्माणीप्रमुखा गणाः ।। २३६.

Rāhu, Ketu, Gaṇapati, Senānī, Caṇḍikā, Umā, Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Durgā, and the hosts led by Brahmāṇī.

रुद्रा इन्द्रादयो वह्निर्न्नागास्तार्क्ष्योऽपरे सुराः । दिव्यान्तरीक्षभूमिष्ठा विजयाय भवन्तु मे ।। २३६.

The Rudras, Indra and others, Agni, the Nāgas, Tārkṣya, and other gods—those dwelling in heaven, midspace, and on earth—may they grant me victory.

मर्दयन्तु रणे शत्रून् सम्प्रगृह्योपहारकं । सपुत्रमातृभृत्योऽहं देवा वः शरणङ्गतः ।। २३६.

May they crush the enemies in battle, having seized the offerings; I, with my sons, mother, and servants, have taken refuge in you, O gods.

विनिवृत्तः प्र्दास्यामि दत्तादभ्यधिकं बलिं ।। २३६.

Having withdrawn, I shall offer a tribute greater than what was previously given.

षष्ठेऽह्नि विजयस्नानं कर्त्तव्यं चाभिषेकवत् । यात्रादिने सप्तमे च पूजयेच्च त्रिवक्रमं ।। २३६.

On the sixth day, a victory bath should be performed, as in an anointing ceremony; on the day of departure, the seventh day, one should worship Trivikrama.

नीराजनोक्तमन्त्रैश्च आयुधं वाहनं यजेत् । पुण्याहजयशब्देन मन्त्रमेतन्निशामयेत् ।। २३६.

With the mantras prescribed for nīrājana, one should consecrate the weapons and the vehicle; with the auspicious and victory chants, one should recite this mantra.

दिव्यान्तरीक्षभूमिष्ठाः सन्त्वायुर्दाः सुराश्च ते । देवसिद्धिं प्रप्नुहि त्वं देवयात्रास्तु सा तव ।। २३६.

May those gods who dwell in heaven, the atmosphere, and the earth grant you long life; may you attain divine success, and may this divine journey be yours.

रक्षन्तु देवताः सर्वा इति श्रुत्वा नृपो व्रजेत् । गृहीत्वा सशरञ्चापं धनुर्नागेति मन्त्रतः ।। २३६.

Having heard 'May all the deities protect,' the king should proceed, taking up bow and arrows, reciting the mantra 'O bow of the serpent.'

नद्विण्णोरिति जप्त्वाथ दद्याद्रिपुमुख पदं । दक्षिणं पदं द्वात्रिंशद्दिक्षुं प्राच्यादिषु क्रमात् ।। २३६.

Reciting 'nadviṇṇor,' he should then place his foot at the mountain's mouth; the right foot, in thirty-two directions, beginning with the east, in order.

नागं रथं हयञ्चैव धुर्यांश्चैवारुहेत् क्रमात् । आरुह्य वाद्यैर्गच्छेत पृष्ठतो नावलोकयेत् ।। २३६.

He should mount the elephant, the chariot, the horse, and the draught animals in sequence; having mounted, he should proceed with music, not looking back.

क्रोशमात्रं गतस्तिष्ठेत् पूजयेद्देवता द्विजान् । परदेशं व्रजेत् पश्चादात्मसैन्यं हि पालयन् ।। २३६.

Having gone a distance of a krośa, he should halt and worship the deities and the Brahmins; afterwards, he should proceed to foreign lands, protecting his own army.

देवानां पूजनं कुर्य्यान्न छिन्द्यादायमत्र तु ।। २३६.

He should perform the worship of the gods, and this should not be neglected here.

नावमानयेत्तद्देश्यानागत्य स्वपुरं पुनः । जयं प्राप्यार्च्चयेद्देवान् दद्याद्दानानि पार्थिपः ।। २३६.

He should not insult the people of that land; having returned to his own city, the king, having attained victory, should worship the gods and give gifts.

द्वितीयेऽहनि सङ्‌ग्रामो भविष्यति यदा तदा । स्नापयेद्‌गजमश्वादि यजेद्देवं नृसिंहकं ।। २३६.

On the second day, when battle is to occur, he should bathe the elephant, the horse, and others, and worship the god Narasiṃha.

छत्रादिराजलिङ्गानि शस्त्राणि निशि वै गणान् । प्रातर्नृसिंहकं पूज्य वाहनाद्यमशेषतः ।। २३६.

At night, he should worship the royal insignia such as the umbrella and weapons, and the groups; in the morning, he should worship Narasiṃha, and all the vehicles and others without exception.